Q&A: An operation to free hostages that would cost more lives than the number of hostages
An operation to free hostages that would cost more lives than the number of hostages
Question
Hello Rabbi,
If we assume we had a choice between two options: to bomb the Hamas headquarters with all the Hamas commanders and all our hostages together with them, where such an action would involve zero casualties to our forces aside from the hostages, of course; or a second option, a rescue operation that is estimated to cost X fatalities, where X is greater than the number of hostages. Which option should we choose, and why?
Best regards,
Answer
We do not make calculations like that. Just as a person may not sacrifice himself even if doing so would save several people, so too it is forbidden to kill people in order to save other people. That is simply the rule of “let him be killed rather than transgress” with respect to murder—one person does not save himself through the life of another. One should definitely carry out a rescue operation, even if it may cost more lives. That is the role of an army.