Gaza War Killed or Injured Over 200,000 Palestinians, Legal Advice Unheeded

Herzi Halevi, a former Israeli army commander, has revealed that over 200,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He also stated that military operations were never hindered by legal advice during the war. Halevi, who led the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for the initial 17 months of the conflict, made these remarks at a community meeting in southern Israel.

Halevi's estimate of casualties, representing over 10% of Gaza's population of 2.2 million, closely aligns with figures provided by Gaza's health ministry. While Israeli officials have often dismissed the ministry's data as propaganda, international humanitarian agencies have deemed it reliable. The current official count stands at 64,718 Palestinians killed and 163,859 injured since the war began on October 7, 2023. Thousands more are feared dead, buried under rubble.

Halevi acknowledged the intensity of the war, stating that the IDF "took the gloves off from the first minute." He made these comments to residents of Ein HaBesor, who had successfully defended themselves against Hamas attackers. Halevi maintained that the IDF operates within the bounds of international humanitarian law, a claim echoed by Israeli officials throughout the conflict.

However, Halevi denied that legal advice ever influenced his or his subordinates' military decisions in Gaza or elsewhere in the Middle East. He stated that legal constraints never restricted him. He also suggested that the primary role of Israel's military lawyers was to defend the legality of the IDF's actions to the outside world.

Michael Sfard, an Israeli human rights lawyer, interpreted Halevi's remarks as confirmation that legal advisors serve as "rubber stamps." He believes that generals view them as advisors whose advice can be disregarded, rather than as legal professionals whose opinions define the boundaries of permissible actions.