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Once again, Israel attacks targets that kill civilians. This time it was a UN school in Nuseirat that was the target. Israel confirms that it has attacked the school, but says it was home to Hamas leaders. If Israel’s claim that the school was used as a command center for Hamas is correct, the question is whether this is a legitimate goal or a war crime.

What is a war crime?

There are special rules about what are legitimate targets and what are not in a war. Attacking a hospital or school is not a legitimate target in the first place. Therefore, the attack on the UN school in Nuseirat is basically not allowed. If it is as Israel claims that the school was used as a command center for Hamas, it is different. Then school is a legitimate goal.

But even if it turns out that there was a command center there, caution should still be exercised. The loss of civilians must be commensurate with the military gain. This is what is so difficult to calculate. How many civilians is it acceptable to kill to put a few dozen Hamas leaders out of action.

Nuseirat not the only case

Throughout the war in Gaza, we constantly see a conflict between civilian casualties and the military benefits of an attack. Everyone remembers the hospital that was destroyed some time ago. There, too, Israel claimed that Hamas had both weapons and soldiers. Perhaps the suffering of the many civilians who were killed was not commensurate with the military gains?

It is conceivable that Hamas uses places such as hospitals and schools to train soldiers and important leaders. Hamas is probably doing this quite deliberately. We call them human shields. War is cruel, which is why it is important that both parties respect international law.

The attack on the UN school in Nuseirat must be investigated. Both parties must respect civilians’ need for protection in a war situation.

Sources:

Gaza war: Israeli strike on UN school kills reportedly kills 35 (bbc.com)

Israel says jets targeting ‘Hamas compound’ have hit a school in Gaza | World News | Sky News

Israel strikes UN-run school in Gaza, killing dozens – POLITICO