I don't think the Guardian article flatters the IDF at all. It makes them look completely incompetent.
The excessive use of bombs and heavy artillery to destroy everything within a large radius of a perceived threat has just created more places for Hamas to hide therefore increasing rather than decreasing IDF casualties.
It admits that tunnels are everywhere even under wasteland which confirms what many of us have thought for a long time; such an extensive network of tunnels in a relatively small area cannot help but run near or under all sorts of buildings.
He says "several veterans" had not seen women or children killed but does not tell us how many soldiers were interviewed. I usually find that approach inadvertently highlights what isn't being said rather than bringing the focus to the misdirection.
The female soldiers were often better because they were serious and there was no "idiot business", rather suggests some of the young men think it's all a bit of a laugh.
That they remained unaware of civilians hiding in basements gives us a clue about their competence in clearing an area and may explain why they are failing so badly at accurately locating tunnels.
The article admits that the destruction in some areas is so complete that there is nothing for Gazans to return to.
In short they excel at shooting each other but otherwise are fucking clueless, more carnage is sure to follow.
What an absolute disgrace of an army. Professional combat veterans must be embarrassed for them.