Israel drops divisive tactic for recovering captive soldiers

JERUSALEM — The Israeli army will no longer employ the tactic of using overwhelming fire to prevent the capture of a soldier, even at the risk of killing the soldier, a military official said yesterday.

During Israel's 2014 war with the militant Islamic group Hamas, troops used the Hannibal Procedure after soldiers feared militants had captured an officer. Israel unleashed heavy shelling and airstrikes on the southern Gazan town of Rafah, killing some 100 Palestinians.

The Association of Civil Rights in Israel called on the military to cancel the practice, saying it endangered the lives of soldiers and civilians.

The military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the matter, said yesterday the military is working on a new protocol for responding to abductions.