Israeli army kills first, seeks justification later, veterans group alleges

Weiman explained in an interview that the military and its spokespersons first carry out strikes, including those resulting in significant civilian casualties, and then attempt to establish the identities and alleged affiliations of those killed. He stated that the soldiers involved in carrying out attacks do not possess the information that is later used for justification. Weiman cited operations around Nasser Hospital, the killing of paramedics in Rafah, and air strikes in Gaza as examples where this pattern has allegedly occurred.

According to Breaking the Silence, the IDF then seeks evidence, such as proximity to a Hamas building, having a family member linked to Hamas, or past associations, to construct a case for the attacks. The organization asserts that these 'permissive rules of engagement' have facilitated widespread human rights violations and that the military seeks international legitimization for its actions. Testimonies collected by the group suggest that what the military presents as isolated incidents may reflect a systematic policy. The organization also noted that cameras in Gaza have been treated as legitimate military targets under these rules, contributing to the high number of journalists killed.