October Hostilities between Israel and Palestinian Armed Groups

Recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas and affiliated armed groups have left several thousand dead, and more are injured, missing or kidnapped. 
 

Several thousand are dead and more are injured, missing or kidnapped. 

War is devastating, especially when international humanitarian law is ignored.  
 
But what are these laws, and how do they apply to these hostilities? 

Warring parties have a duty to distinguish between combatants and civilians.  

Deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime. 

Homes, places of worship, hospitals, schools, and cultural monuments are protected. 

 
No one can be punished for crimes they did not personally commit.  

Collective punishment of a population, like cutting off electricity to an entire civilian area, is unlawful and a war crime. 

 
Taking hostages is a war crime. Armed groups should release them safely, immediately and unconditionally. Until they are released, they must be treated humanely. 

The ICC prosecutor has an ongoing investigation into alleged serious crimes committed in Palestine since June 13, 2014. 
 

His office has said its mandate applies to crimes committed in the recent hostilities between Palestinian armed groups and Israel. 

Without accountability and justice, the abuses are likely to continue, and civilians will pay the price. 

No atrocity can justify another.