This week, Israel likely killed the long-time head of Hamas’s military, Mohammed Dief, with multiple 2,000-pound bombs, just after the United States announced it was lifting restrictions on 500-pound bomb shipments to Israel but maintaining a block on larger munitions, including 2,000-pound bombs.
President Joe Biden emphasized that these heavier bombs cannot be used in populated areas without causing significant human tragedy and damage. His comments reflect a common view that these weapons are exceptionally destructive in urban settings.
Despite the consensus on the devastation caused by 2,000-pound bombs, urban warfare often leads to high civilian casualties, as seen in Gaza where Hamas operates beneath densely populated areas.
The penetration capabilities of these bombs, which can reach depths of 16 to over 30 feet, are crucial for targeting the extensive tunnel networks used by Hamas and Hezbollah. These tunnels, some as deep as 200 feet, protect their substantial arsenals, complicating military operations.
Israel Targets Hamas Leader with 2,000-Pound Bombs Amid U.S. Restrictions and Urban Warfare Debate
Israel has utilized these bombs against what it considers military targets within bunkers and tunnels, accepting the inevitability of civilian casualties, similar to past U.S. military actions. The U.S. has a history of using 2,000-pound bombs extensively, including during the Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq invasion, where thousands of such bombs were dropped in urban areas, leading to significant destruction and civilian deaths.
The debate over using these bombs in urban areas is part of a larger discussion initiated by a human rights coalition led by Human Rights Watch in 2011, which aimed to ban all explosive weapons in populated areas. The movement, known as “explosive weapons in populated areas” (EWIPA), has seen 87 countries endorse a political declaration to reduce civilian harm in urban warfare by restricting such weapons’ use.
Urban warfare’s inherent destructiveness is unlikely to cease, and banning bombs and artillery could paradoxically result in more destruction. History shows that restrictions on these weapons prolong conflicts and lead to devastating sieges, as seen in battles like Manila and Seoul. Limiting the use of bombs forces prolonged urban battles, increasing casualties and destruction.
As a potential ceasefire in Gaza looms, the absence of 2,000-pound bombs has hindered Israel’s efforts against Hamas. If diplomatic efforts fail to demilitarize Hamas, the conflict could extend to southern Lebanon with Hezbollah. While urban warfare is devastating, depriving Israel of these bombs in populated areas could extend and exacerbate the human tragedy.
