What is the Israeli military’s Hannibal Directive?

• As Hamas raided southern Israel last year, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) activated the “Hannibal Directive”, a purported operational doctrine of using maximum force to ensure no soldiers are captured, even if it means sacrificing military and civilian lives

Hannibal Directive

• The Hannibal Directive is a secretive Israeli military policy aimed at preventing the capture of Israeli soldiers by using maximum force, even if it risks the soldiers' lives.
• It was created in 1986 after Hezbollah captured three Israeli soldiers in Lebanon, where Israel had a military presence.
• The directive allows the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to take extreme measures to prevent soldiers from being taken captive, including using lethal force if necessary.
• Its purpose is to avoid situations where captured soldiers could be used in prisoner swaps, which can be politically sensitive and emotionally challenging for Israel

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