According to a recent US intelligence assessment, approximately half of the bombs Israel dropped on Gaza since the attacks initiated by Hamas on October 7th are considered 'dumb bombs.' As the name denotes, these types of bombs lack precision and are unguided, which increases the likelihood of collateral damage and unintentional civilian casualties.
Statistically, of the estimated 29,000 air-to-ground munitions that have carpeted Gaza over the past two-plus months, between 40 to 45 percent qualify as unguided 'dumb bombs.' The inaccuracy associated with these bombs has been linked to the spike in civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip.
Making the situation more concerning is the fact that Israel does have access to precision-guided munitions. Thousands of bomb kits have been provided by the US, granting Israel the capacity to upgrade these 'dumb bombs' into 'smart bombs'. These 'smart bomb kits' enhance precision, thus reducing the likelihood of civilian casualties to a considerable degree.
The White House has struggled to reconcile the narrative of Israel's 'indiscriminate bombing campaign' with counterclaims of Israel's dedication to civilian protection. This predicament is further complicated by the revelation that Israel is not consistently utilizing the most accurate munitions in their arsenal.
In response to these pressing concerns, debate surrounding the Israeli campaign’s strategy has emerged internationally. Notably, John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, defended the imperfections of war strategy and execution, stating: 'Sometimes in war, your best plans, your best execution of those plans doesn't always go the way you want it to go, doesn't always go the way you expect it to go.'
This assessment has not quelled the international outrage provoked by escalating civilian deaths. The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health reports that over 18,000 Palestinians have been killed in the last two months of warfare. The use of 'dumb bombs', previously criticized by the US when employed by other countries in war zones, continues to dominate the discourse surrounding the Israeli campaign strategy.
