Philosophy Written Assignment 2

Assignment 3, Topic 2: Roof Knocking during the 2014 Gaza War Due date: May 10th, 10 PM, through uLearn. You may turn it in earlier. Length: 2-3 pages, not including a Works Cited page

 

Topic: During the 50-day Israel-Gaza war of 2014, the Israeli air force sometimes bombed apartment buildings, apparently to target military leaders who used the buildings as headquarters for Gazan forces. Knowing that the apartments also housed civilians, Israel practiced a strategy called “roof-knocking” in order to minimize casualties of non-combatants.

In “roof-knocking,” Israeli planes fired a relatively small missile that detonated loudly above the apartment. This “knock” would occur a minute or two before an actual military strike, and was meant to be a warning to those living in the apartment to get out and run for cover. However, as the Washington Post reported, “the warning may spur people to enter the house in the hope that their presence would deter a strike, while some warning strikes are said to have killed occupants.”

Using principles of jus in bello, defend or critique the use of roof-knocking by the Israeli air force.

 

Your response:

1) Find and view several examples of “roof-knocking” on youtube link. There are many, but they are usually no more than 5 minutes or so.

2) Find two or three sources online that comment on the practice (written commentary, please).

3) Write a brief response of about 2-3 pages on whether the “roof knocking” is in reality an ethical practice, including your reasons why or why not? Use your research to supplement or balance your analysis, as appropriate.

4) Your response should evaluate their actions using the three principles for the conduct of war described in your textbook: discrimination, proportionality, and military necessity (See pp. 182-184 in your textbook). As you make your evaluation, you will need to define and apply these concepts clearly and accurately. I recommend reviewing the textbook a few times before you start.

 

5) Include a Works Cited page in addition to the 2-3 pages of the essay.