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Source: http://www.jcpa.org/text/Accountability_of_Hamas_Under_International_Humanitarian_Law.pdf
Accountability of Hamas Under International Humanitarian Law
(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs-Konrad Adenauer Stiftung) Sigall Horovitz - Because Hamas is involved in an armed conflict with Israel, it is obligated to observe certain norms of international humanitarian law. Hamas fighters who daily targeted Israeli civilians with rockets, as well as suicide bombers, violated the Geneva Conventions which prohibit violence towards life and body of anyone who is not taking part in the hostilities. Hamas can be held responsible for violations of international humanitarian law. Individuals can be charged with criminal responsibility for serious IHL violations, referred to as war crimes. The use of rockets and suicide bombings to attack civilians may amount to genocide and/or crimes against humanity. The writer worked as legal adviser to the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and served with the Office of the Prosecutor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone.