Lord David Cameron, the foreign secretary, said on Friday that the judgment can be expected “in the coming days definitely”.
Cameron has said a judgment will be made on whether Israel remains compliant with international humanitarian law ‘in the coming days’.
The UK is set to make a judgment on whether Israel is compliant with international humanitarian law amid its conflict with Hamas.
This comes amid rising tensions between the UK and Israel, which is not allowing more aid into Gaza. Hamas, a UK-designated terrorist organisation, launched attacks on southern Israel on 7 October in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 kidnapped. Israel has retaliated with months of attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing and wounding tens of thousands.
So, what is international humanitarian law and how does it apply to the Israel-Gaza conflict? Here, Yahoo News UK explains.
What is international humanitarian law?
International humanitarian law applies to armed conflicts.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), an organisation that helps people affected by armed conflict and promotes compliance with international humanitarian law, defines it as a “set of rules which seek, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not or are no longer participating in the hostilities and restricts the means and methods of warfare.”
It is designed to protect civilians, prevent injury and suffering and damage to the environment.
International humanitarian law is also known as the “law of war” or the “law of armed conflict”.
It is contained in the four Geneva Conventions of 1949, which the ICRC points out “nearly every state in the world has agreed to be bound by”, as well as the Additional Protocols of 1977.
How does it apply to the Israel-Gaza conflict?
In addition to the impact of Israel’s attacks, there is mounting concern about the level of aid getting into Gaza over land, with international bodies warning of an impending famine if current restrictions continue.
Lord Cameron said on Friday it was “incredibly frustrating” that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not heeding calls to open more crossing points to allow more UN staff into Gaza and switch on water and electricity.
The UK’s impending international humanitarian law judgment will dictate whether it stops arms sales to Israel, he said.
In a statement about the conflict on Saturday, the ICRC also pleaded with Israel and Hamas to uphold international humanitarian law.
President Mirjana Spoljaric said: “A steady, robust flow of humanitarian aid to match the needs is only part of the solution. Alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza starts with a clear will and measures that safeguard civilian life and human dignity, meaning both sides must conduct their military operations in a way that spares the civilians who are caught in the middle.
“The only way to achieve this is that the parties strictly adhere to international humanitarian law, which means preserving the life, dignity and humanity of all people affected by armed conflict, regardless of which side they are on. It is the line between humanity and barbarity.”
Genocide accusation
Since it started its retaliatory attacks in October, Israel has been accused of genocide, defined as “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”. Israel has rejected this as baseless.
In January, South Africa asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to declare Israel was committing genocide, and to order Israel to stop its military campaign.
The court did not do this, instead issuing a more general order for Israel to make sure it prevents acts of genocide. A final ruling in the ICJ case in The Hague could take years.
