The series of explosions that rocked Lebanon this week, killing dozens and wounding thousands, has prompted heated debate among legal experts on international humanitarian law.
Many, but not all, of the pagers and walkie-talkies that unexpectedly blew up over two days across Lebanon and in some neighboring countries were in the possession of Hezbollah fighters, functionaries or allies.
The group is designated as a terrorist organization by several nations, including the United States, but many of its members and supporters operate in civilian areas across Lebanon — and some of the explosions left innocent bystanders, including children, injured or dead.
Israel has not officially acknowledged playing a role in the explosions. But a U.S. official, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told NPR that Israel notified Washington that it was responsible for Tuesday’s attacks.
Several international treaties and protocols to which Israel is a signatory could render these actions by a state such as Israel illegal under international humanitarian law, scholars say.
TVNL Comment: Is targeting civilians for nearly a year a violation of internaitonal law? How about killing health care workers, doctors, journalists and infants? How about bombing hospitals and schools and withholding food and medical supplies? How about cutting off water? How about torturing detainees who have not even been charged with crimes? So many more questions that are rhetorical but necessary to ask.
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