Understanding the Laws of War: Accountability for Alleged Crimes in Israel and Gaza

The "laws of war" or International Humanitarian Law (IHL) are a set of statutes agreed upon in international conventions and treaties over the last 150 years, with the goal of protecting civilians during armed conflicts. All signatories to the Geneva Conventions are obligated to investigate and prosecute war crimes domestically. International tribunals have been convened to prosecute war crimes in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and the former Yugoslavia. Experts say that attacks on military posts are generally not war crimes, but Hamas' attacks on Israeli civilians are considered war crimes. The legality of blockades depends on their impact on the civilian population, and the Israeli military's actions in Gaza must balance the safety of civilians with the objective of eliminating Hamas. Attacks on hospitals and schools are prohibited under IHL, unless they are being used for military purposes by enemy combatants. Israel must defend itself without abandoning its principles to avoid being ostracized.