Examining Israel's Proportionality in Gaza Conflict

The article examines Israel's approach to proportionality in the conduct of hostilities in Gaza, particularly in relation to civilian casualties. It discusses the legal framework of proportionality under international humanitarian law (IHL) and the challenges of applying it in practice. The author analyzes the Oct. 31 Jabalia camp strike as a case study, highlighting Israel's official statements and the expected civilian harm in the attack. The article argues that Israel's tolerance for civilian casualties appears to be out of step with that of the U.S. and its coalition partners in previous counterterrorism operations, raising concerns about compliance with IHL. The growing disquiet in the Biden administration about civilian casualties in Gaza poses a challenge for countries supporting Israel's military operations.