[Avodah] The Halakhos of Humanitarian Pauses

[Micha Berger]

As PM Netanyahu (may the RBSO grant him, the rest of the government,
Tzahal, and our people the wisdom and foresight we need to get through
this mess) describes these humanitarian pauses as tactical and localized.
Still, this aids the enemy.

Obviously I didn't raise the topic to argue military strategy on Avodah.
The whole thing raised the halachic issue for me.

The Sifrei (Bamidbar 31:7) says that it is assur to fully enclose a city
when laying seige on it. One side must be left open to allow civilians
to escape.

The Rambam, Hil' Melahim 6:7, codified this lehalakhah. But the Chinukh
(527) and the Ramban on seifer hamitzvos (after asei #5) limit this to
a milkhemes reshus. And there is no greater milkhemes mitzvah than one
to save lives.

So, are these "Humanitarian Pauses" obligatory?

:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 One doesn't learn mussar to be a tzaddik,
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   but to become a tzaddik.
Author: Widen Your Tent                            - Rav Yisrael Salanter
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF