Humanitarian law Quote by Anonymous
““Even assuming that Israel’s claims were plausible, humanitarian law obligates Israel to avoid civilian casualties that “would be excessive [32] in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.” A belligerent force must verify whether civilian or civilian infrastructure qualifies as a military objective. In the case of doubt, “whether an object which is normally dedicated to civilian purposes, such as a place of worship, a house or other dwelling or a school, is being used to make an effective contribution to military action, it shall be presumed not to be so used [33].””
About This Quote
Source Legal analysis: International Humanitarian Law commentary, 2020
International law requires proportionality, forbidding excessive civilian harm relative to military gain.
In simple terms: Law limits civilian damage in conflict.
Apply proportionality when planning attacks.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- military planning
- humanitarian NGOs
- policy drafting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How to balance military advantage with civilian safety?
- What evidence proves civilian use?
Interpretation of “excessive” can be subjective.