Ask Haviv Anything Episode 77: Did Israel intentionally target civilians in Gaza?
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Jan 9, 2026 The podcast dives into the contentious question of whether Israel intentionally targeted civilians in Gaza. It explores the brutal realities of urban warfare and Hamas tactics, discussing the impact of Israeli operational choices. Insights on the legal measures taken by Israel to mitigate civilian harm are shared, along with the complexities of accountability and potential war crimes. The conversation also highlights the broader implications of civilian casualties in the information war and critiques global campaigns aimed at delegitimizing Israel.
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Question Is Harder Than It Seems
- Haviv Rettig Gur frames the question as difficult to answer and hard to be heard on given the surrounding campaigns and emotions.
- He warns that many reports are part of broader efforts to delegitimize Israel and urges cautious listening.
Unprecedented Tunnel Warfare
- Haviv describes Hamas's tunnel network and urban warfare as unprecedented and central to Israel's tactics.
- He says repeated raids and avoiding long occupation partly aimed to minimize civilian harm while targeting tunnels.
Harm Mitigation Unit In Practice
- Haviv recounts Israeli command centers consulting lawyers before strikes and creating a Harm Mitigation Unit to warn civilians.
- They made millions of calls, SMSs, leaflets, and maps to telegraph attacks and reduce civilian presence.