Comment by Sabinus

1 year ago

How close does it come to intentionally targeting civilians?

They hunted down, shot, and killed multiple of their own, underwear-clad civilian citizens who were all the while waving white flags and loudly surrendering in hebrew [0]

Imagine the sort of intentional targeting we don't get to see, because the journalists are killed [1] or the internet is cut [2] or the power is cut [3] or because everyone hiding is terrified to even move, knowing anything moving will be shot on sight [4], even surrendering Israeli hostages [0]. What a nightmare.

Known (indeed, willing) indiscriminate killing of civilians (especially in civilian areas, yikes) is as much a war crime [5] as "intentionally targeting civilians", even if one shouts "get out of there!" or "human shields!" or "terrorists!" or "it's comin' right for us!" in a Calvinball-style declaration whilst doing it.

For more detailed analysis of how Israel seems to be ignoring their obligation to protect Palestinian civilians, I recommend consulting the full ruling [6] from the ICJ, the literal judges of this matter.

0: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/world/middleeast/israel-h...

1: https://cpj.org/2024/01/journalist-casualties-in-the-israel-...

2: https://www.wired.com/story/israel-gaza-internet-blackouts-w...

3: https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-67073970

4: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/16/middleeast/idf-sniper-gaza-ch...

5: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiscriminate_attack#The_1977...

6 (PDF warning): https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192...