The Hannibal Directive

Ma. Rabbi: "Please ask everyone to say Tehillim for the missing Israeli soldier, Gilad ben Aviva, for his safe return". Mystical Paths: Attack, Kidnap, Pray For...

Jerusalem Post: Analysis: Israel's hostage complex.

It's talked about in hushed voices during the dead hours before dawn of a particularly lonely guard shift: "Nohal Hannibal" - the Hannibal Directive - the rumored standard procedure in the eventuality of an IDF soldier being captured.
In such a case, soldiers are told (although never officially) that their comrades will be given the order to rain fire on the abduction team, without consideration for the poor soldier's life. The underlying rationale is that the nation can bear the deaths of soldiers, but not the uncertain fate of a captured serviceman.

treppenwitz: What Gilad's father is thinking