In a recent report released by Human Rights Watch, evidence suggests that Israel is in violation of international law due to its use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas. The report highlights the devastating consequences of dropping massive bombs in densely packed city blocks, leading to a significant loss of civilian lives.
According to Sari Bashi, a humanitarian lawyer and the program director for Human Rights Watch, it is evident that Israel is not taking feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. Bashi points out that 83 countries, including the United States, have signed a political declaration committing to refraining from using such deadly weapons in densely populated areas. The use of these bombs in urban areas significantly increases the risk of unlawful indiscriminate attacks and predicts a high number of civilian casualties.
Satellite imagery presented in the report provides a horrifying picture of the situation in Gaza. Since October 7th, media reports have estimated that over 20,000 Palestinians have been killed, with a vast majority being civilians, including over 8,000 children. Bashi further explains that dropping these 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated areas, where families seek shelter, contributes to the alarming death toll. The laws of war explicitly prohibit indiscriminate attacks and require the distinction between civilians and combatants. Deliberately targeting civilians or using weapons that cannot distinguish between the two is in violation of international law.
Complicating the issue further, the United States has provided Israel with more than 5,000 of these devastating bombs since October 7th. Human Rights Watch warns that by providing weapons that can be used to commit atrocities, the U.S. government risks implicating itself in these grave violations. As a result, Human Rights Watch has called for the suspension of military aid and arms transfers to both Israel and Palestinian armed groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
When discussing Hamas's role in the conflict, Bashi emphasizes that the laws of war and obligations to protect civilians are not reciprocal. Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups are held responsible for deliberate killings of civilians in southern Israel since October 7th and for the continued holding of hostages.
In light of the evidence presented, there is a clear call for accountability and action to prevent further loss of civilian lives. Human Rights Watch urges Iran to halt its provision of arms to Palestinian armed groups and the United States to suspend arms transfers to the Israeli military. By doing so, the hope is to put an end to the unlawful and indiscriminate attacks, thereby protecting the lives of innocent civilians caught in the midst of this devastating conflict.
