If the situation devolved into some sort of shooting war, the fewer civilian bystanders wandering through the better.
Journalists here contend that many of those killed are civilian bystanders later labeled as guerrillas.
In addition to the four soldiers, two civilian bystanders were killed.
Five terrorist members and a civilian bystander were killed.
All the while they constantly fired at anyone that moved within the vicinity of the building, including civilian bystanders.
You mention that Israel should "do far more to minimize the damage to civilian bystanders."
Eleven civilian bystanders were injured, including a two-year-old child and 80-year-old man.
Eleven civilian bystanders were injured in the attack, including a two-year-old child and an 80-year-old man.
But reports in the Palestinian news media said the man killed was a civilian bystander.
As for civilian bystanders, he had an ironclad rule against involving them in any action that would cost an innocent's life.