IDF Rules of Engagement: Soldiers Denied Strike on Hamas

New details published by Israel's Channel 12 News reveal a troubling incident that occurred along the Gaza Strip border several days ago.

Intelligence information indicated an unusual gathering of dozens of Hamas operatives, but despite repeated requests from soldiers in the field to carry out a preemptive strike, command headquarters refused to authorize the attack.

"If this isn't a threat we're allowed to strike—then what is?" an officer who was present during the incident asked. "We wanted to attack—and they didn't approve it. We feel our hands are tied facing terrorists who are already sitting and planning the next massacre."

According to the report, early Tuesday morning, around 3:00 AM, the security establishment received real-time intelligence indicating an unusual gathering of approximately 50 Hamas operatives conducting suspicious activity inside Gaza territory, close to the Israeli border.

The IDF initially assessed this might be routine training, but nevertheless prepared for the worst-case scenario: that the operatives were preparing to carry out a surprise raid into Israeli territory or an assault on one of the IDF's positions in the area. The Gaza Division then raised alert levels and deployed numerous forces to positions along the fence.

The IDF also launched a "Zik" drone, according to the Channel 12 report. However, sources familiar with the incident's details said the unmanned aerial vehicle failed to visually identify the gathering of operatives that intelligence had indicated. At this point, soldiers made contact and demanded authorization to carry out a preemptive strike in the area where the operatives were estimated to be gathering.

Although the soldiers made it clear that rapid action was necessary to prevent any possibility of surprise and to maintain deterrence, tthe IDF refused to authorize the strike, arguing that no specific visual threat had been identified. Forces remained in a state of heightened defensive alert status the morning, when the suspicious gathering dispersed.

The IDF confirmed the publication's details to Channel 12, explaining that the strike was not carried out because no unusual gathering was identified through surveillance cameras. The military emphasized that contrary to claims being heard, there has been no change in the rules of engagement regarding terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

But for soldiers in the field, these explanations are far from satisfactory. Anger among troops in the Gaza Strip is growing, against the backdrop of a difficult sense of having their "hands tied" by senior command.

In a potentially even more serious incident, Hallel Bitton-Rosen from Channel 14 reported:

Several Hamas terrorists crossed into the Yellow Zone after being detected by IDF surveillance units. They stole engineering equipment and then returned to the Red Zone without troops opening fire on them.

The soldiers requested authorization to engage them, but senior command refused to give the green light.

In addition, more than 65 incidents of crossings into the Yellow Zone in Gaza were recorded over the past week, and no fire was opened in any of them. This is three times the number recorded during the period before what the reporter describes as restrictions being imposed on the troops.

A senior security official said: “Hamas is testing us, exactly as it did before October 7. What happened last night could have ended with a soldier being abducted.”

Separately, the IDF Spokesperson announced Thursday that overnight, security forces demolished illegal outposts in Area B near the villages of Qusra and Jalud in the Samaria Brigade sector and confiscated equipment at the site. One Israeli was detained.

According to situational assessments, soldiers from the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade arrived overnight in the Samaria Brigade sector. The soldiers will carry out defense missions and patrols in the area to maintain security in the region.