Roof knocking
Encyclopedia
Roof knocking refers to a code name
used by the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF) for its practice of warning inhabitants of a building, suspected by the IDF to contain weapons, before it is bombed. The goal of this practice is to give the inhabitants time to flee the attack. The term roof knocking or "a knock on the roof" has also been used to describe the IDF practice of firing a non-explosive missile at a roof to get people there to leave. As early as 2006 the IDF had the practice of warning the inhabitants of a building that was about to be attacked.
Roof knocking was used during the 2008–2009 Gaza War. In the six months prior to its use, Israel
collected data on Hamas
members, which they used to issue warnings. Typically, Israeli intelligence officers and Shin Bet security servicemen contacted residents of a building in which they suspected storage of military assets and told them that they had 10–15 minutes to flee the attack, although sometimes the attack occurred 5 minutes after the warning.
However, Hamas asked civilians to stand on the roofs of buildings to dissuade Israeli pilots from attacking. Some residents that were warned about an impending bombing climbed up to their roofs. When faced with this situation, IDF commanders have either called off the bombing or launched a newly developed, relatively harmless, non-explosive missile at empty areas of the roof, in order to frighten the people gathered on the roof into leaving the building. In several instances, the IDF has used a sound bomb to warn civilians before striking homes.
The Israeli Government reported that the warning systems were not perfect but still highly effective. Aerial video surveillance by IDF forces confirmed many times the departure of civilians from targeted areas prior to an attack, as a direct result of the warnings. When Nizar Rayan
, a top Hamas military commander, was warned but didn't leave his home, he and his family of 15 were killed in the subsequent bombing.
According to the Israeli army, striking homes used as weapons storages, when sufficient warning is given to the residents, falls within the boundaries of international law
and is legitimate. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
, the warning of inhabitants by Israeli forces is psychological warfare
and after the first week of the offensive, only 37 houses had been destroyed despite hundreds of warning calls.
Code name
A code name or cryptonym is a word or name used clandestinely to refer to another name or word. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage...
used by the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF) for its practice of warning inhabitants of a building, suspected by the IDF to contain weapons, before it is bombed. The goal of this practice is to give the inhabitants time to flee the attack. The term roof knocking or "a knock on the roof" has also been used to describe the IDF practice of firing a non-explosive missile at a roof to get people there to leave. As early as 2006 the IDF had the practice of warning the inhabitants of a building that was about to be attacked.
Roof knocking was used during the 2008–2009 Gaza War. In the six months prior to its use, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
collected data on Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
members, which they used to issue warnings. Typically, Israeli intelligence officers and Shin Bet security servicemen contacted residents of a building in which they suspected storage of military assets and told them that they had 10–15 minutes to flee the attack, although sometimes the attack occurred 5 minutes after the warning.
However, Hamas asked civilians to stand on the roofs of buildings to dissuade Israeli pilots from attacking. Some residents that were warned about an impending bombing climbed up to their roofs. When faced with this situation, IDF commanders have either called off the bombing or launched a newly developed, relatively harmless, non-explosive missile at empty areas of the roof, in order to frighten the people gathered on the roof into leaving the building. In several instances, the IDF has used a sound bomb to warn civilians before striking homes.
The Israeli Government reported that the warning systems were not perfect but still highly effective. Aerial video surveillance by IDF forces confirmed many times the departure of civilians from targeted areas prior to an attack, as a direct result of the warnings. When Nizar Rayan
Nizar Rayan
Nizar Rayan was a top Hamas leader who served as a liaison between the Palestinian organization's political leadership and its military wing. Also a professor of Islamic law, he came to be considered a top clerical authority within Hamas after the death of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in 2004...
, a top Hamas military commander, was warned but didn't leave his home, he and his family of 15 were killed in the subsequent bombing.
According to the Israeli army, striking homes used as weapons storages, when sufficient warning is given to the residents, falls within the boundaries of international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
and is legitimate. According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights is an independent Palestinian human rights organization based in Gaza City, founded and directed by Raji Sourani...
, the warning of inhabitants by Israeli forces is psychological warfare
Psychological warfare
Psychological warfare , or the basic aspects of modern psychological operations , have been known by many other names or terms, including Psy Ops, Political Warfare, “Hearts and Minds,” and Propaganda...
and after the first week of the offensive, only 37 houses had been destroyed despite hundreds of warning calls.