What are the rules of war? And how do they apply to Israel's actions in Gaza?

Source: ABC News

What are the rules of war? And how do they apply to Israel's actions in Gaza?

ANNE FLAHERTY
Fri, October 13, 2023 at 7:46 PM EDT·4 min read

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Israel has promised to abide by international humanitarian law including those under the Geneva Convention that seeks to minimize the impact on civilians, provide aid to the wounded on the battlefield, and not to mistreat prisoners of war.

In general, the U.S. military and Israeli Defense Force also rely on similar rules of engagement in military operations.

Israel insists it follows the rules of war and always has.

But there is disagreement by international groups about exactly what qualifies as a violation in a country's quest to defend itself against terror attacks, as well as whether Israel could be prosecuted through the International Criminal Court -- an entity Israel doesn't recognize.

Officials at the United Nations and European Union have accused Israel of already violating its promise not to harm civilians by cutting water and electricity to all of Gaza residents, including to hospitals. They also say it's impossible to ensure the safety of so many civilians by giving only 24 hours to evacuate to avoid the fighting.

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Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/gma/rules-war-apply-israels-actions-234600923.html