Lunch Briefing—Fighting an Enemy Who Uses Civilians as Human Shields

Hamas is understood to attempt to deter Israeli attacks by locating their operations in close proximity to civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, and refugee centers. While the extent of the use of civilians as human shields on the part of Hamas may currently be under dispute, the international consensus appears to be that this is a longstanding tactic of the Hamas network and other terrorist organizations. What is the status under LOAC of civilians used as human shields by terrorist organizations? What is the status under LOAC of civilian infrastructures, such as hospitals, that are used as command-and-control centers by terrorist organizations? What lessons can be drawn from the United States’ military operations against ISIS and other terrorist organizations in this regard? Featuring Speakers General (Ret.) Joseph Votel, Professor Orde F. Kittrie and moderated by Professor Claire Finkelstein.