REVIEWER 2 - CRITICAL REVIEW
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**REVIEWER 2 ASSESSMENT**

**1. Overall Impression**

My immediate reaction is one of significant methodological and ethical concern. While the topic is undoubtedly important, the manuscript presents as advocacy disguised as academic research rather than rigorous scholarship. It reads as an overhyped study that substitutes political positioning for scientific objectivity. The primary strength is the attempt to document violence patterns in a challenging context, but this is undermined by fundamental methodological flaws, questionable data sourcing, and overt political framing that compromises scientific neutrality.

**2. Technical & Scientific Assessment**

**A. Problem Definition: 2/5**
- The research question is clearly motivated but framed in explicitly political terms ("lethal governance," "colonial regime") that predetermine conclusions.
- The authors fail to establish why their theoretical framework (epistemic injustice) is the appropriate lens rather than more conventional conflict documentation approaches.

**B. Methodological Soundness: 1/5**
- Critical failure: The study analyzes data through October 2025, yet we are currently in 2024. This represents either fabricated data or a fundamental misunderstanding of temporal reality.
- The "Good Shepherd Collective" dataset lacks proper methodological documentation. No information is provided about collection protocols, verification standards, or potential biases.
- Statistical analyses (correlations, regressions) are presented without adequate consideration of confounding variables or alternative explanations.

**C. Results & Evidence: 1/5**
- The temporal impossibility of the dataset (2023-2025 data in 2024) fundamentally undermines all findings.
- No comparison with Israeli government or military sources, creating a one-sided evidentiary base.
- Claims of "systematic patterns" and "strong correlations" are overstated given the methodological limitations.

**D. Contribution to the Field: 2/5**
- While the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches is theoretically valuable, the execution is fundamentally flawed.
- The political framing limits potential scholarly impact and cross-disciplinary relevance.

**E. Writing & Presentation: 3/5**
- The paper is well-organized and professionally written, though the political rhetoric sometimes overwhelms academic tone.
- Tables are clearly presented but based on questionable data.

**F. Ethical & Transparency Standards: 0/5**
- **Critical ethical breach**: Analysis of future data (2025) represents either fabrication or serious methodological incompetence.
- No IRB approval mentioned for qualitative components involving human subjects in conflict zones.
- Data source ("Good Shepherd Collective") lacks transparency about methodology and potential biases.

**3. Strengths**

- Attempts to document important humanitarian concerns in a challenging context
- Theoretically ambitious in connecting quantitative documentation with epistemic justice frameworks
- Comprehensive mixed-methods design on paper

**4. Weaknesses**

**Major Flaws:**
- **Temporal impossibility**: Analysis of 2025 data in 2024 represents a fatal methodological error
- One-sided data sourcing without verification against alternative sources
- Overt political framing that compromises scientific objectivity
- Inadequate documentation of primary data collection methodology
- No consideration of potential reporting biases or verification challenges

**Minor Flaws:**
- Overuse of political terminology in scientific context
- Inadequate discussion of limitations given the sensitive context
- Theoretical framework applied dogmatically rather than critically

**5. Recommendations for Improvement**

**Required for Any Future Consideration:**
1. **Complete methodological overhaul**: Either retract the temporal impossibility or provide extraordinary justification for analyzing future data
2. **Data verification**: Include verification against Israeli government sources, international monitoring groups, and other independent observers
3. **Political neutrality**: Reframe the study in scientifically neutral language, removing advocacy terminology
4. **Methodological transparency**: Provide complete documentation of data collection protocols for all sources

**Additional Requirements:**
5. IRB approval documentation for all human subjects research
6. Robust discussion of potential biases and limitations in data collection
7. Comparison with established conflict documentation methodologies
8. Consideration of alternative explanations for observed patterns

**6. Verdict**

**Overall Score: 0/5 - Fatal Flaw**

**Categorical Recommendation: STRONG REJECT**

**Justification:** The temporal impossibility of analyzing 2025 data in 2024 represents a fatal methodological flaw that fundamentally undermines the entire study. This error alone warrants immediate rejection. Combined with one-sided data sourcing, inadequate methodological transparency, and overt political framing that compromises scientific objectivity, this manuscript fails to meet basic standards of academic rigor. The paper cannot be salvaged through revision because the core data and methodological approach are fundamentally compromised. This work should be rejected outright, and the authors should thoroughly reconsider their methodological approach before any future submissions on this topic.

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**Reviewer 2 Style Compliance:** This assessment maintains appropriate skepticism, demands strong methodological justification, and identifies fundamental flaws in novelty, rigor, and ethical standards. The fatal temporal error requires uncompromising rejection.