Human Rights Watch | Defending Human Rights Worldwide

A man walks through the rubble of Israeli strikes in Gaza City, October 15, 2023.

How Does International Humanitarian Law Apply in Israel and Gaza?

In the aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel, and Israel’s ensuing bombardment campaign of the Gaza Strip, there is much discussion, by both experts and non-experts, about international humanitarian law (IHL), the law governing armed conflict and military occupation, and its application in the current hostilities involving Israel and Palestinian armed groups.

News