The principles established to govern conduct during conflicts after World War II remain critically important, even 75 years after the ratification of the Geneva Conventions. However, there is ongoing debate regarding the global community’s adherence to these vital guidelines. Philippe Lazzarini, the chief of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), highlighted this issue in a recent social media post commemorating the anniversary of the conventions’ adoption.
Lazzarini emphasized that “Seventy-five years ago today, the Geneva Conventions were put in place to protect civilians in times of war.” These rules are designed to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of armed conflicts, and they enjoy broad consensus among nations. However, he lamented that these vital protections have been “blatantly broken” on a daily basis in Gaza, involving both the Israeli military and various Palestinian armed groups, notably Hamas. He further accused United Nations member states of failing to fulfill their obligations to uphold the conventions and ensure that all parties in conflict adhere to them without exception.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken also commented on the significance of the Geneva Conventions in a statement marking their anniversary. He reflected on the “tragedies” of World War II that necessitated their creation and urged all nations to reaffirm their commitment to these essential humanitarian rules. Blinken stated, “Faced with the horrible reality of war, parties to armed conflict must comply with international humanitarian law to mitigate many of war’s worst humanitarian consequences, support pathways to peace, and advance the protection of civilians and other victims.”
His remarks came in the wake of an Israeli strike on a former school compound in northern Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of dozens of Palestinians, prompting widespread international condemnation. According to Gazan health authorities, who do not differentiate between militants and civilians in their casualty reports, over 100 individuals were reported killed. The Israeli military defended this attack, as it has for numerous other strikes throughout the ongoing conflict, arguing that Hamas and other militants were utilizing schools, hospitals, and residential areas in Gaza City as military command centers, thereby violating international humanitarian law. They claimed that their operations were precise and based on credible intelligence.
On Monday, the Israeli military issued a statement asserting that they had identified 31 militants from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad who had been killed in the operation thus far. This ongoing cycle of violence raises critical questions about the enforcement of international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
