• DdCno1@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    ·
    5 months ago

    This was a ruse of war, which is entirely permitted:

    https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/customary-ihl/v2/rule57

    What isn’t permitted is fighting in civilian clothes, but if you read the article, there is nothing indicating that they did. It is entirely legal to move about and set up an attack in civilian clothes, provided they are discarded immediately before striking.

    • The_Terrible_Humbaba@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      9
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      The article says:

      Eyewitnesses tell Asharq that beside the disguised troops, other special forces snuck into the Nuseirat camp inside an aid truck. The IDF has denied using humanitarian transports for the operation.

      From the link you posted, it seems this would still be a war crime if it’s true, unless I’m misinterpreting the text:

      Ruses of war are permitted. Warships and auxiliary vessels, however, are prohibited from launching an attack whilst flying a false flag and at all times from actively simulating the status of protected vessels such as hospitals ships, small coastal rescue craft or medical transports.

      I assume the aid truck they were using would qualify as an “auxiliary vessel”, and they were using it to impersonate “medical transport”.