Tom Dannenbaum, an associate professor of international law, discusses the rules of war in an urban setting, focusing on the recent Israel-Gaza conflict and the high number of civilian casualties. The podcast explores the application of key laws in densely populated areas and examines the legality and consequences of Israel's defense actions.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza is severely impacting children's mental health, with symptoms including fear, tension, nightmares, and difficulty sleeping.
Wars in densely populated areas are subject to specific rules, including targeting military objectives, minimizing civilian loss, and not engaging in excessive attacks. The recent bombing of a refugee camp questions Israel's self-defense claims and the proportionality of the attack.
Deep dives
Debilitating Mental Health Symptoms in Children of Gaza
Children in Gaza are experiencing severe mental health symptoms due to the ongoing conflict. Symptoms include fear of darkness, general tension, nightmares, and difficulty sleeping. The violence has shattered their sense of the world and left them constantly on guard. The Israeli army's airstrikes have taken a heavy toll, with nearly half of the 9,000 Palestinians killed being children. Despite US leaders emphasizing Israel's right to defend itself, growing concerns are raised about the increasing death toll of Palestinian civilians.
The Rules of War in Conflict Zones
There are specific rules that govern how wars are waged in densely populated urban areas. These rules include targeting military objectives instead of civilians or civilian objects, prohibiting indiscriminate attacks, taking precautions to minimize civilian loss, and not engaging in attacks if the expected civilian loss is excessive compared to the military advantage. These laws are codified in various treaties and are enforceable through domestic courts and the International Criminal Court. The recent bombing of a refugee camp raises questions regarding Israel's self-defense claims and the proportionality of the attack.
Unanswered Questions about the Attack
Regarding the recent bombing, questions arise about the anticipated civilian casualties and the specific military advantage of targeting a single commander. Additionally, the identity of the commander and their significance remains unknown. Analyzing proportionality raises concerns about the decision-making process, particularly if Israeli civilians were in a similar situation. The focus of the analysis should be on recognizing the inherent value of civilian lives, regardless of nationality or affiliation.
On October 31st Israeli military forces bombed the Jabalia refugee camp just north of Gaza City.
They said the area was a Hamas stronghold that included underground tunnels and a command center, and that they were targeting a Hamas commander there.
The health ministry in Gaza says the strike caused a large number of civilian casualties. So what are the rules of war that might apply to such situations?
NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Tom Dannenbaum, an associate professor of international law at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy about the rules of war in an urban setting.