The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas raises critical questions about the application and interpretation of the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC). Join the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law at the University of Pennsylvania for a series of one-hour lunchtime briefings (12pm ET) on the Israel-Hamas war featuring experts in national security, military strategy, and the law of war.
LEGAL COMPLEXITIES OF URBAN WARFARE: FIGHTING A SUBTERRANEAN ENEMY IN A DENSELY POPULATED ENVIRONMENT
Dense urban warfare involving sophisticated networks of tunnels and concentrated numbers of civilians above ground presents many legal and operational challenges. The goal to eliminate Hamas appears to be inextricably linked to high numbers of civilian casualties under such circumstances. How does
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
BROADER GEOPOLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: IRAN AND OTHER GLOBAL POWERS
Iran has denied a direct role in the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel. Yet intelligence officials say the complexity and stealth of the attacks bear the hallmarks of Iranian involvement. What role, if any, did Iran play in orchestrating the Hamas attacks? What are the implications of the Israel-Hamas conflict for the
CIVILIANS IN WAR: SECURING THE SAFE RETURN OF HOSTAGES AND ENSURING JUST TREATMENT OF DETAINEES
It has been over two months since Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, taking roughly 240 hostages of whom over 130 remain in captivity. With talks resuming, what are the prospects for future release of hostages coupled with a ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners? What is the role of
International Court of Justice Process Against Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ), a legal body of the United Nations established in 1945 to adjudicate disputes between countries, will hear this week a case brought by South Africa against Israel alleging that its military campaign against Hamas is in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This briefing will address the legal dimensions
Lawfare: When Law Becomes an Instrument of War
South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case has intensified the debate over whether Israel’s military campaign in Gaza is in violation of the international laws that govern war. In a two-day public hearing on Jan. 11-12, the Israeli defense team rejected evidence brought by South Africa accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. What
Sexual Violence as a Weapon of War and Lessons in PTSD in War
Several reports, including groundbreaking work by Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy of Israel’s Civil Commission on October 7 Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, have documented the extensive use of sexual and gender-based violence by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks. Emerging forensic and testimonial evidence shows a clear pattern of rape
Detainees in War: Reporting on the Treatment of Gazans in Israeli Custody
Since the start of the war, 27 Gazan detainees have died during questioning at the Israeli facilities of Sde Teiman and Anatot, according to Haaretz. Detainees who were released from Israeli custody have described wide-ranging incidents of harassment, including stripping, beating, blindfolding, and sexual abuse. The Israel Defense
Perfidy: Intelligence and Military Applications of Trickery and Ruses
Techniques involving perfidy are forbidden under international humanitarian law in warfighting. Undercover operations in intelligence and law enforcement, however, are routine. These may involve the use of disguises and trickery which would not be permissible in armed combat. The war in Gaza and its spillover effect in the West
