Hamas strike on Israel - mod warning in OP updated 19/10/23

With all due respect, it is impossible, given the number of your contributions to the thread, and the direct responses to your contributions that you have "seen scant, if any international laws being explained in this respect".

It has also been explained to you repeatedly that it is immaterial whether Israel has subscribed to one international law or another. There is no requirement for Israel to have ratified all international law. You have strangely referenced the International Criminal Court on some vague basis that Israel's non-ratification of the ICC means it is outside international law. That simply isn't true.

FWIW, Israel has ratified the Geneva Conventions which relate to the Rules of War and the international law applicable to conflict.

I have attempted to link an article from Charles Trumbull from a website Articles of War which doesn't seem to be linking. This article, written in July 2023 includes the following:

"Collateral damage is an accepted consequence of warfare. The law of armed conflict (LOAC) permits soldiers to carry out attacks against military objectives with the knowledge that civilians will be killed, provided the attack is consistent with the requirements of the principle of proportionality."

"The rules of LOAC provide some protections for civilians, but civilians can lawfully be killed in war. The LOAC principle of distinction prohibits attacks directed against civilians, meaning it is unlawful to intentionally target civilians. Civilians, however, may be incidentally harmed or killed in attacks directed at military objectives. The LOAC principle of proportionality only prohibits attacks against military objectives if the attack is expected to cause incidental harm to civilians or civilian objects that would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Thus, the principle of proportionality implicitly authorizes the knowing or foreseeable (but not intentional) killing of civilians in certain circumstances. Indeed, the ratio of civilian to combatant deaths has increased over the past century, particularly with the advent of aerial warfare, the development of more destructive weapons, and the urbanization of societies."

These are fairly simple legal concepts to understand and explain why Israel's actions are not immediately considered war crimes and why even countries like Norway only consider that Israel MAY have committed war crimes. Oh, and before you criticise the link, I am aware of the links to Westpoint, but the thinking set out is clear and factual and lends itself to counter-argument, if you possess the faculty to make one.

https://lieber.westpoint.edu/articles-of-war/

Where did I say I have no qualifications or experience? This is an anonymous internet board and I am not required to demonstrate those before contributing.

I do have the capacity to understand complex legal positions and have done so many times in my working lifetime.

Once again, for you, it is easier to criticise the messenger than address the clear issues set out in the message, which says it all.

The clear issue is that you are declaring no war crimes have been committed by Israel as a fact when you are in no position to do so.

Where is Ukraine's empathy to Palestinian and Cuba. They are following the US lead. Send back the Ukrainian refugees, Ukraine are only out for number 1, Ireland should follow and save billions. Redirect some of the savings for the rebuild in Palestinian.

The same ukraine under occupation and being hit with Iranian weapons day after day...

Strange how you never direct to this challenge to those accusing Israel of war crimes? Did you forget to do that?

You only seem concerned about the qualifications of those on one side of the argument.

The poster has cited numerous sources, including those who do have qualifications, experience and credibility. You don't engage with those, because you can't. You are just trying to shoot the messenger. It is a social media forum, who did you expect to be here discussing the topic?

When do you consider records having begun?

Numbers reported by Hamas are not an authoritative sourc to pu it mildly. They are not verifiable or trustable.

Again, one doesn't need to be Einstein to understand that.

I'm sure they are still counting 1000 + victim of the hospital that wasn't bombed a few weeks ago

You must have missed Netanyahus little moment when he started quoting the old testament there.

Do the millions Palestinians in Arab East Jerusalem, the occuppied west bank and golan get a vote to the Israeli knesset?

And who or what is Israel accountable to?

Looks like Israel has completely cut Gaza in two according to the latest updates

Not immediately apparent...

Collective punishment.

Restricting aid entering Gaza.

Shelling civilians in a car point blank with a tank.

Targeting and killing a journalist.

Deploying white phosphorus in a civilian area, endangering them.

That's 5, that to me (and the likes of amnesty international) appear pretty apparent.

You don't seem to have understood my posts on the matter. There is no clear evidence of war crimes by Israel. Their actions may be justified and justifiable under international law which is why Norway have only said that Israel MAY have committed war crimes. Simple as that.

By contrast, there are posters like yourself, who without any knowledge or understanding of law, let alone international law, without any examination of the evidence or lack of, have concluded that Israel are guilty of war crimes. So, no understanding of international law, no examination of evidence, yet you convict. Wouldn't like to see you on a jury.

Your postings on the matter simply aren't credible.

Isreal is accountable to the people of Israel.

The PLO in the West Bank are accountable to the Palestinians living there (even if they are highly corrupt.)

Hamas are not accountable to anyone.

Street by street, tunnel by tunnel we haven't even the worst of it yet