In recent defense actions, it has been revealed that a significant proportion of the air-to-ground munitions employed by Israel in Gaza have been unguided. Given the densely populated nature of Gaza, the distinction between precision-guided munitions and unguided, or 'dumb bombs', is no small matter. Experts contend that these unguided munitions present a considerably higher risk to civilian populations and tend to lack the precision of their guided counterparts.
Despite the widespread availability of guided munitions provided by the U.S., Israeli forces appear to continue utilizing unguided munitions in a significant capacity. This raises questions regarding the sincerity of arguments made by Israeli authorities that all possible actions are being taken to minimize civilian casualties. Even though Israeli forces maintain that the type of munitions used in each strike is determined according to individual target characteristics, the scale of unguided munition use raises concerns.
The emergence of these findings runs counter to U.S. assertions that Israel is doing everything possible to limit civilian casualties. This conflicting information has led to a certain tension highlighted in talks during the National Security Advisor’s recent visit to Tel Aviv. The meeting was focused on discussion to shift from high-intensity operations to lower-intensity ones in the near future.
Despite pressure from the U.S. for a more targeted approach and a reduction in the intensity of actions, the Israelis seem committed to maintaining the current intensity level of the war effort. The defense minister indicated the current War could last several months or more, with the Prime Minister reiterating the country's resolve to continue fighting until the complete destruction of Hamas is achieved. This leaves open a significant question regarding the post-Hamas fate of Gaza and the issue of hostages currently held by Hamas.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, mediated by the Qatari government, have unfortunately stalled since the termination of a week-long truce. The U.S. is currently engaged in an effort to re-ignite these negotiations, with the release of hostages and an overall cessation of hostility remaining key aims. Nevertheless, any tangible outcome or solutions remain unclear.
