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Source- This post on the Hannibal Directive has been created based on the article “Death before capture: What is the Israeli military’s Hannibal Directive?” published in “Indian Express” on 11 July 2024.
Why in the news?
The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz has reported that when Hamas attacked on October 7, the IDF activated Hannibal Directive.
About Hannibal Directive
1. The Hannibal Directive is also known as the Hannibal Procedure or Hannibal Protocol.
2. It is a controversial operational doctrine purportedly used by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
3. It aims to prevent the capture of Israeli soldiers, even at the risk of their lives and those of civilians.
4. It was formulated in response to the Jibril Agreement of 1985, where Israel exchanged 1,150 Palestinian prisoners for three Israeli soldiers captured by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC).
5. It is believed to be inspired by the Carthaginian general Hannibal, who chose to consume poison rather than be captured by the Romans in 181 BCE.
4. Implementation and Use
i) The directive was first implemented by Yossi Peled, then head of the IDF’s Northern Command, in mid-1986 after an abduction attempt by Hezbollah.
ii) Initially, the Hannibal Directive allowed for light arms fire to stop abductors or their vehicles. Over time, its interpretation broadened, leading to the use of heavier military force, including attack helicopters.
iii) The directive was justified on the grounds that captured Israeli soldiers would not be treated with dignity and that preventing capture, even at the cost of the soldier’s life was preferable. Many Israelis supported this view to avoid politically costly prisoner swaps.
5. Criticism: Legal experts and human rights advocates have criticized the Hannibal Directive for its disregard for human life.
UPSC Syllabus: International relations
