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Source: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/tunnels-as-war-crime
Tunnels as War Crime
(Times of Israel) Daphne Richemond-Barak - The tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza present novel issues for international law. Gaza's tunnels burrow under an internationally recognized border, they traverse civilian areas, and their primary objective and effect - contrary to international law - is to harm and endanger civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian. Most tunnel digging begins within homes, hospitals, mosques and other "protected objects." Filled with explosives and weapons, tunnels can detonate at any time, risking the lives of the civilians living above them. For these reasons, the construction of combat tunnels under civilian populated areas and protected sites like hospitals, across borders, and/or with the intention of maiming civilians must be regarded as a violation of international law. The writer is assistant professor at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at IDC Herzliya.