IDF commanders will be permitted to employ drones “to carry out strikes should armed individuals be recognized as posing an immediate threat to their forces,” the publication claims.
The directive comes in the wake of a bloody Israeli raid; and as the IDF increasingly turns to robots to enforce Palestinian territory law.
Since 2008, Israel has utilized Elbit’s Hermes 450 drones to conduct targeted killings in Gaza. According to the IDF, the drones have never been in use offensively over the West Bank.
The decision to alter this policy was in response to the early-morning raid in Jenin; which resulted in the deaths of four Palestinians and 44 injuries to others.