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International Humanitarian Law

  • Gaza: Palestinian Rockets Unlawfully Targeted Israeli Civilians
    Dec 24, 2012
    Palestinian armed groups in Gaza violated the laws of war during the November 2012 fighting by launching hundreds of rockets toward population centers in Israel.
  • Syria: Strong Coalition Message Against Targeting Civilians
    Dec 21, 2012

    The Syrian National Coalition (SNC) sent a clear signal that targeting civilians violates the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said today. The coalition’s statement on December 19, 2012, condemned attacks on civilians, regardless of their nationality. 

  • Israel/Gaza: Unlawful Israeli Attacks on Palestinian Media
    Dec 20, 2012
    Four Israeli attacks on journalists and media facilities in Gaza during the November 2012 fighting violated the laws of war by targeting civilians and civilian objects that were making no apparent contribution to Palestinian military operations
  • Israel/Gaza: Israeli Airstrike on Home Unlawful
    Dec 7, 2012
    An Israeli airstrike that killed 12 civilians – the largest number of civilians killed in a single attack during the Gaza fighting in November – was a clear violation of the laws of war.
  • Joint Letter to UN Security Council on an International Military Force for Mali
    Dec 5, 2012

    As the UN Security Council considers the authorization of an international military force for Mali, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, FIDH, and the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect share concerns about the possible human rights challenges such a force could encounter if it is not accompanied by the proper safeguards for civilian protection and human rights monitoring capability.  

  • South Africa can contribute to ending bloodshed in Syria
    Nov 27, 2012

    To limit the violations by both sides and ensure justice for victims, South Africa and other key members of the international community should support the referral of Syria to the International Criminal Court.

  • Gaza: Build on Ceasefire to Address Rights Abuses
    Nov 23, 2012
    Israel and Hamas should follow the announced ceasefire agreement with concrete measures to address longstanding human rights abuses and the impunity that has fueled violations in successive conflicts.
  • Q & A on Hostilities between Israel and Hamas
    Nov 20, 2012
    The following questions and answers address issues relating to international humanitarian law (the laws of war) governing the current conflict between Israel and Hamas and armed groups in Gaza. Human Rights Watch has not yet been able to undertake a significant on-the-ground investigation in Gaza. The purpose here is to provide analytic guidance for those who are examining the fighting, as well as for the parties to the conflict and those with the capacity to influence them.
  • Israel/Gaza: Avoid Harm to Civilians
    Nov 15, 2012
    Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups in Gaza need to take all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians as hostilities between the two sides intensify.
  • UN: Act on Failings in Sri Lanka
    Nov 14, 2012

    The United Nations secretary-general’s internal review on UN action in Sri Lanka should lead to specific and concrete measures to ensure the UN takes all needed measures to prevent mass atrocities in future conflicts, Human Rights Watch said today.

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