( JTA) — The Israeli army substantially loosened its rules of engagement in the weeks immediately following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, according to a new investigation by the New York Times.

Officers could endanger up to 20 civilians to kill a low-level fighter in immediate aftermath of Hamas attack, report says, and often hit targets selected partly using AI tools The post IDF loosened rules of engagement after Oct.

A senior military officer told NYT on the condition of anonymity that Israel's military leadership changed its rules of engagement after October 7, believing that Israel faced an existential threat.