If the rules of war had been followed, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups would not have entered Israel on Oct. 7 and killed hundreds of civilians before taking hostage more than 200 others. Similarly, if Israel had taken better precautions in its military response, the deaths of more than 15,000 people and the destruction of critical infrastructure could have been avoided.
The tragedy unfolding in Israel and Gaza is marked by a severe lack of adherence to international humanitarian law, or IHL. Unfortunately, this is not the only place we see devastating civilian harm and disregard for IHL. In Ukraine, Russian troops continue to carry out indiscriminate attacks. In Sudan, unlawful killing of civilians by the Rapid Response Forces and the Sudan Armed Forces continues to be reported, while in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, civilians continue to face atrocities despite the cessation of hostilities signed a year ago.
The terrible truth is that many countries have failed to live up to their commitments to protect civilians because IHL is only as good as its implementation. IHL is more than a set of rules signed by states — it's a pact to do everything possible to protect the lives of civilians in armed conflict.