A picture released by the Israeli Army says to show Israeli soldiers conducting operations in a location given as Tel Al-Sultan area, Rafah Governorate, Gaza, in this handout image released April 2, 2025. Photo: Israeli Army/Handout via REUTERS

ISRAEL — An Israeli strategist defended Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran at an event in northern Israel, stressing that the Jewish state has painstakingly attempted to minimize civilian casualties despite ongoing international outrage over its conduct.

Avraham Levine — an expert at the Alma Research and Education Center, which focuses on Israel’s security challenges along its northern border — spoke at the David’s Harp hotel, where he acknowledged that Israel’s military campaigns have damaged the Jewish state’s image. However, he argued that none of Israel’s naysayers have presented any “better solution” to address the existential threats surrounding the country.

Dismissing calls to tone down Israel’s military conduct, Levine said he has been working to “legitimize attacks in Beirut or wherever Hezbollah is,” referring to the Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group that has been pummeling northern Israeli communities with rockets and drones.

Levine also excoriated critics who allege that Israel engages in indiscriminate targeting and is attempting to decimate the entirety of Gaza’s infrastructure in its military campaign against Hamas.

“We are taking down the buildings in Gaza we are being shot from,” he said, referring to Hamas’ military strategy of placing its weapons and operation centers within or underneath civilian sites such as schools and mosques.

Levine also noted that it is nearly impossible for the Israeli military to differentiate civilians and terrorists in many cases because Hamas fighters embed themselves within civilian infrastructure and “only wears their uniforms during ceasefires.”

The analyst also batted down suggestions by skeptics that Israel could have mitigated civilian harm by facilitating transfers of women and children outside of Gaza into a safe-zone within Israel.

“Transfer people out of Gaza? I mean, that would look even worse,” he argued.

Levine pointed to the recent controversy in which Israel came under international scrutiny over its detainment of activists on the flotilla trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza as evidence that any attempt to remove Palestinians would be lambasted with accusations of ethnic cleansing.

The strategist criticized the Israeli government for not being proactive with its public relations efforts, oftentimes failing to adequately present evidence and justification for their military decisions. He argued that the government should compile portfolios of targeted individuals in advance and share them with the media and global leaders.

“I think my problem with how our system works is that usually we fight the battle after we already lost it,” Levine said.

“I would say that up front. I would say there’s a verdict. Here’s our proof and send it to everybody,” he continued. “New York Times, Washington Post, TikTok videos, everybody up front, and say, ‘Be prepared. We have the opportunity. We’re gonna take him out.'”

Levine added that religious extremism presents a complicating factor in any attempt to defuse tensions within the Middle East. He argued that the realities of Islamist ideology must be confronted in order for Israel to successfully achieve its military objectives.

“Religion is a very, very big part of the problem. And I’m not saying all Muslims are killers. I’m not saying all Muslims are terrorists,” he said.

Levine suggested the implementation of a multi-front approach to dismantling terrorist groups in the region such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. He argued that targeting “leaders,” “infrastructure,” “communications,” and “weapons” is necessary to mitigate the terrorist groups’ ability to project power. He also added that “closing transportation” and changing their “political interests” are also critical to help Israel combat extremism.