Jews Against the Occupation
International Humanitarian Law
International Humanitarian Law: the Geneva Conventions
The Fourth Geneva Convention (1949) is a cornerstone of international humanitarian law that ensures minimum protections for civilians in armed conflict and occupation. It forbids, among other things: the construction of settlements on occupied land1, unilateral annexation2, willful killing of civilians3, collective punishment4, torture5, and the destruction of property without a compelling military reason6. It also requires judicial accountability for those who commit war crimes (defined as “grave breaches” listed in Article 147 of the Convention). The Convention fully takes into account military necessity and cannot be violated for “security” reasons.
Israel’s occupation and settlement system in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is a form of de facto apartheid that is the root cause of instability in the region. As most of these policies violate Israel’s existing legal obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is clear that the enforcement of international humanitarian law presents a clear, consistent, and effective means of addressing violence in the region. By compelling Israel to dismantle settlements, refrain from attacks against civilians, end its policies of collective punishment, and ensure judicial accountability for suspected war criminals, the international community can create a stable environment in which Palestinians and Israelis can resolve outstanding political issues and conclude a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace.
1Article 49, 2Article 47, 3Articles 146-147, 4Article 33, 5Articles 31-32 and146-147, 6Articles 53 and 146-147
This section reprinted from Palestinian Centre for Human Rights
Also see:
A brief history of the Four Geneva Conventions
Summary of UN Agreements on Human Rights - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, right of self-determination, convention against genocide, convention against torture.
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