Israel, Napalm and Mosquitos

By Walter E. Block

In the event, the IDF killed Yahya Sinwar with lead bullets. But suppose, just suppose, that they had done so with napalm, instead. Would the Israeli soldiers have been justified in so doing?

The Zionist entity has been accused of using this weapon, utilized by the US in its war with Viet Nam. I take no position on whether this actual incident occurred or not. But if it were indeed the case, would it have been justified?

It is beyond clear that if anyone ever deserved to die a premature death (none of us gets out of this vale of tears alive), it would be Yahya Sinwar. While he was a guest of the Israeli prison system, Jewish doctors and dentists saved his life from certain death due to a health malady he had contracted. How did he repay this generosity accorded to him? He was the mastermind behind the pogrom of October 7, 2023, which directly killed 1200 innocent people and included the kidnapping of an additional 250 musical concert goers and kibbutznicks. Many of the latter have already perished or soon will meet that fate, if we can rely upon the usual scruples of Hamas.

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Is there something about napalm that renders it per se an illicit weapon? No. If the IDF had sent Sinwar to Muslim nirvana in this manner instead of by use of a lead bullet, they would have been entirely justified. The only device now known to man which deserves that characterization is nuclear. Why? That is because it is impossible to confine its power to the guilty.  A bombs and H bombs must necessarily kill the innocent. At least on planet earth. If ever we inhabit Jupiter, and each and every last one of us entirely occupies, oh, 1000 square miles, this may not be the case. But here on earth nukes should be verboten.  On the other hand, germ warfare, think of a super duper hopefully non-existent, malevolent Covid, would also apply. Napalm does not appear to fit into either of these categories.

What about the “Mosquito” policy. This is the new name for an old ploy. Here, the army captures an enemy soldier and forces him to either walk through a minefield or tell his captors the location of the booby traps, demonstrating the truth of his claims with his own body at risk.

Again, let us take the case wherein the IDF has corralled Sinwar, and compels him to walk into a possibly booby-trapped tunnel. Would they be justified in so doing? It is difficult to see why they would not. Remember, this terrorist’s life is forfeit to the Jewish army. He full well deserves to die. Why not in enacting this punishment, gain some needed information which will help them win the war? Which will likely save the lives of soldiers in the IDF? Not unreasonably, they may use his life in whatever manner they choose.

However, what of war crimes? These include: “… serious violations of international humanitarian law that include wilful (sic) killings, direct attacks on civilians, torture, use of prohibited weapons, the murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or others who have been captured, surrendered or injured and crimes of sexual violence.”

Using this “Mosquito” policy on captured soldiers easily fits this bill. Would Israel not be guilty of contravening them? No. This applies under the laws of war, wherein one nation declares war on another, all the soldiers wear uniforms, and other niceties of belligerence are adhered to. But nothing of the sort applies here. Iran has not formally declared war against Israel, and they, along with Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthies, are no better than brigands, murderers, terrorists. It is more than quite a stretch to think that any proprieties of war need be respected by Jerusalem against these vicious genocidal maniacs. Civilized armies do not engage in rape, murder of innocent women and children as occurred in the pogrom of October 7, 2023. Yes, implementing the Mosquito in this context would indeed breach laws of civilized warfare, but nothing of the sort, except on the side of the Jewish state, is now occurring in the Middle East.

What about using dogs instead of a Sinwar to ferret out hidden booby traps? This might be a good idea, except for the fact that soldiers typically weigh 200 pounds or so, and, with their armaments might tip the scales at 250. No animal is likely to weigh anything like that amount, and if it carried a pack bringing it up to that scale, might not behave appropriately. It is indeed possible that the hidden bombs might be set to explode only when a human body weight sets them off. However, better to sacrifice man’s best friend than a human life, even such a one as Sinwar’s (Just, please, do not release any more prisoners like this one in exchange for pretty much anything or anyone). On the other hand, animals trained to engage in such activities are very expensive. Just how much, after all, does the IDF owe to Sinwar, to keep him alive, in such a hypothetical situation?

What about appropriately weighted robots? They too are very expensive and Israel is fighting for its very life as a nation. Should they be required to divert resources needed elsewhere to preserve the life of a Sinwar? It is not easy to make that case.

However, we are in danger of getting off topic. The issue is not whether there are better ways of ferreting out hidden bombs. It is only and solely whether or not the IDF would be justified in using a mass murderer in this capacity. One further advantage of using a person instead of a dog or robot (unless it is a super duper robot), is that the explosive can be disarmed, not exploded with great damage. With the terrorists’ cooperation, this result could be avoided.

But Sinwar is a man of principle. Evil principle to be sure, but principle nonetheless. What then? Answer from the IDF perspective: Ve haff our vays to compel prisoners such as he to cooperate.

January 29, 2025 | 2 Comments »

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  1. Remember to give him a good soakdown with pig’s blood before sending him into the mine field.

    Allah does not like the smell of pig’s blood and Sinwar will not be rewarded in Allah’s heaven.

  2. Ve haff our vays to compel prisoners such as he to cooperate

    This won’t work. These Jihadists would welcome a shortcut to their destiny, especially if they can kill someone else too.