Three questions regarding euthanizing a suffering animal, soldier or kidnapped victim.
Q. 3 related questions: 1) What is the halacha regarding Euthanasia for animals that are suffering? 2) What is the halacha regarding a war type scenario whereby it is very clear that a soldier is going to be executed in a terribly painful and slow way, basically tortured to death, let’s say burned alive or similar, can a Jewish soldier shoot this soldier (Jewish or not) who is about to die in a terrible manner in order to prevent him from going through such pain? This is not an interrogation situation but execution without a doubt. 3) What is the halacha on something like the IDF’s Hannibal Directive?
1. Yes, it is good to put an animal out of its misery, the mitzva of tza’ar ba’alei chayim. 2. In general we are not allowed to actively kill someone in order to alleviate his pain. 3. This is a big question, not really for this concise framework, but in general, there is room for the Israeli army to decide that we don’t want any prisoners taken by our ruthless enemy, or in order that he not divulge delicate secrets which will endanger many, etc. There is a famous Nodah b’Yehuda who writes (and is cited by many in this context, as is the Ya’avetz), that national security of Am Yisrael supersedes all mitzvot, even the 3 cardinal sins, but each case must obviously be reviewed by the leading poskim.
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