Israeli watchdog criticizes army's controversial "Hannibal Directive"

JERUSALEM, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel's "Hannibal Directive," a controversial military tactic used when soldiers were captured by enemy forces, was criticized in a report released by the government's watchdog on Wednesday.

Under the directive, last used during Israel's 2014 offensive in Gaza, soldiers are ordered to use heavy fire if a soldier was captured, even at the risk of killing the soldier.

During Israel's "Protective Edge" 2014 campaign, the directive was employed after militants had captured a soldier. Israel reacted with heavy artillery fire and airstrikes on Rafah, a town in the southern enclave, killing at least 100 Palestinians.

In the 169-page report, the State Comptroller, an official watchdog that reviews the government's activities, said the directive is vague about "the value of the abducted soldier's life."

The report also criticized the order for not "explicitly" stating the need to use "proportional" force.

A military statement said the army welcomes the report, adding that "most of the specific suggestions regarding these mechanisms have already been fixed and addressed."

Human rights organizations have long criticized Israel's use of the directive, charging it constitutes a violation of international law. Wednesday report was a rare criticism by an official Israeli body. Enditem