Under international humanitarian law, all parties must distinguish between military targets and civilian objects and direct their attacks only at military objectives. “Deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian property and infrastructure are war crimes, as are disproportionate attacks. Impunity only works to fuel the pattern of unlawful attacks and civilian bloodshed, which have we have repeatedly documented in previous Israeli military offensives on Gaza,” said Saleh Higazi. Amnesty International has previously published evidence that the Israeli military had a deliberate policy of targeting family homes during the 2014 conflict. The attacks completely destroyed two residential buildings belonging to the Abu al-Ouf and al-Kolaq families – killing 30 people – 11 of them children.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 17, 2021 19:41 UTC