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Geneva Conventions

All articles tagged with #geneva conventions

world6 hours ago•8 min saved

Trump’s Iran gamble devolves into war threats and a fragile ceasefire

Sidney Blumenthal argues that Trump’s Iran campaign quickly spiraled from a victory fantasy into dangerous, law-violating threats—raising concerns of war crimes and incitement to genocide—amid counsel from military leaders and legal scholars. The piece traces how rhetoric escalated toward targeting civilian infrastructure, drawing on references to the Geneva Conventions and Genocide Convention, before a ceasefire abruptly ended the episode and exposed a misfit between Trump’s bravado and real-world consequences.

via The Guardian|

#geneva-conventions #genocide #iran

politics1 year ago•6 min saved

Controversial Pentagon Nominee Hegseth Faces Senate Scrutiny

Pete Hegseth, nominated by Trump for Secretary of Defense, has criticized NATO, the UN, and international laws like the Geneva Conventions, advocating for a more aggressive U.S. military approach. He emphasizes prioritizing U.S. foreign policy around Israel, aligning with Christian nationalist views. Hegseth's stance raises concerns about NATO's future, potential conflicts with Iran, and impunity for U.S. war crimes. His rhetoric reflects a shift towards unilateral military actions and a focus on Israel as central to U.S. interests.

via The Guardian US|

#geneva-conventions #israel #nato

international-news1 year ago•2 min saved

Emaciated Ukrainian POWs Reveal Horrors of Russian Captivity

Photos of recently released Ukrainian prisoners of war, including Roman Gorilyk, reveal severe emaciation and poor health conditions after two years in Russian captivity. Ukrainian authorities liken their treatment to Nazi concentration camps, accusing Russia of violating international human rights agreements and the Geneva Conventions. The Ukrainian government reports that almost all released prisoners suffer from weight loss, sores, and untreated injuries.

via CNN|

#geneva-conventions #human-rights #international-news

international-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

Israeli Special Forces Raid West Bank Hospital, Raising Questions of International Law Compliance

Israeli military personnel, disguised as medical staff, raided a West Bank hospital and killed three Palestinian men, including a Hamas leader, sparking concerns of potential war crimes. The raid likely violated laws of war, including the prohibition against perfidy. The International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over potential crimes committed at the hospital, and an independent investigation is urgently needed to establish the facts of the situation.

via The Intercept|

#geneva-conventions #international-criminal-court #international-relations

international-affairs2 years ago•14 min saved

"Israel's Evolving Approach to the Laws of War in the Israel-Hamas Conflict"

The Israeli government's interpretation of international humanitarian law, which prioritizes military necessity over the protection of civilians, undermines the values and rules of the Geneva Conventions. This approach, reminiscent of Francis Lieber's theory of justifiable conduct in war from the 19th century, allows for massive harm to civilians in pursuit of quick victory. Israeli officials often emphasize the justice of their cause and the need to win quickly, downplaying the importance of proportionality and minimizing harm. Their approach to proportionality focuses on the strategic objective of eradicating Hamas, rather than the concrete and direct military advantage of specific attacks. Similarly, their approach to minimizing harm often relies on warnings to civilians rather than adjusting means and methods of warfare. This interpretation of international humanitarian law threatens the protection of civilians and must be addressed.

via Just Security|

#civilian-protection #geneva-conventions #international-affairs

conflictinternational-relations2 years ago•4 min saved

Red Cross's Crucial Role in Gaza Hostage Crises and Humanitarian Aid

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has played a crucial role in facilitating the release of hostages in the Israel-Gaza war. The organization, which requires the trust of all sides, has been in contact with Hamas since the hostages were seized and has been involved in their handover. The ICRC's traditional role under the Geneva Conventions includes visiting prisoners, delivering medical supplies, and bringing news to desperate families, but it can only do so with the agreement of both parties involved. The organization has also facilitated prisoner exchanges in other conflict zones, highlighting its ongoing efforts to reunite families separated by war.

via BBC.com|

#conflictinternational-relations #geneva-conventions #hostage-crises

conflictwar2 years ago•2 min saved

Russia Exploits Ukrainian POWs to Fight Against Their Own Country

Russia is reportedly sending Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) to fight on Moscow's side in the war, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti. The POWs allegedly swore allegiance to Russia and joined a battalion that entered service last month. The authenticity of the report and videos released by the news agency, as well as the coercion of the POWs, could not be immediately confirmed. Experts argue that such actions would violate the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit POWs from being exposed to combat or dangerous conditions. Russia has previously used inmates from its own prisons to fight in Ukraine, and it is also attempting to bolster its forces through a conscription campaign in occupied regions.

via Yahoo News|

#coercion #conflictwar #geneva-conventions

international-law2 years ago•7 min saved

Understanding the Laws of War: Accountability for Alleged Crimes in Israel and Gaza

The "laws of war" or International Humanitarian Law (IHL) are a set of statutes agreed upon in international conventions and treaties over the last 150 years, with the goal of protecting civilians during armed conflicts. All signatories to the Geneva Conventions are obligated to investigate and prosecute war crimes domestically. International tribunals have been convened to prosecute war crimes in Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and the former Yugoslavia. Experts say that attacks on military posts are generally not war crimes, but Hamas' attacks on Israeli civilians are considered war crimes. The legality of blockades depends on their impact on the civilian population, and the Israeli military's actions in Gaza must balance the safety of civilians with the objective of eliminating Hamas. Attacks on hospitals and schools are prohibited under IHL, unless they are being used for military purposes by enemy combatants. Israel must defend itself without abandoning its principles to avoid being ostracized.

via NBC News|

#geneva-conventions #international-humanitarian-law #international-law

human-rights2 years ago•1 min saved

"AP Exposes Torture of Ukrainian Prisoners in Forced Russian Trench Digging"

Ukrainian civilians held by Russian forces are being tortured and forced to dig trenches for the military, in violation of the Geneva Conventions, according to the Associated Press. Former detainees, Ukrainian officials, and satellite imagery support these claims. The report also reveals the existence of makeshift and formal detention facilities where prisoners are held, as well as plans to build more prison colonies and detention centers in occupied territories. The UN has documented exchanges of civilian prisoners for Russian soldiers, executions of captives, and widespread torture and ill-treatment. Russia denies holding Ukrainian civilians in captivity.

via The Moscow Times|

#detention #geneva-conventions #human-rights

gaming3 years ago•4 min saved

Red Cross urges gamers to follow rules of war in FPS games.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has launched a 'Play By The Rules' campaign, calling on first-person shooter players to follow the real-world Rules of War when playing games set in conflict zones. The campaign recommends four specific rules, including not shooting at downed enemies and not targeting non-violent NPCs. The ICRC partnered with five streamers to host a six-hour Twitch livestream and created a custom Fortnite island named after the campaign. The goal of the campaign is to collaborate with the gaming community to have a tangible and meaningful outcome for International Humanitarian Law.

via Bounding Into Comics|

#campaign #first-person-shooters #gaming

gaming3 years ago•1 min saved

Red Cross Urges Gamers to Follow Real-Life Rules of War in Virtual Worlds

The International Committee Of The Red Cross has launched the "Play By The Rules" initiative, which aims to raise awareness of the rules of war by encouraging players of first-person shooter games to respect real-world rules of war while they play. The Red Cross has issued guidelines for players to follow, including avoiding shooting at downed enemies, not targeting non-violent NPCs or civilian buildings, and sharing med kits with allies and enemies alike. Participating games include Fortnite and Arma 3, which previously raised money for the Red Cross with its Laws Of War DLC.

via NME|

#arma-3 #fps-games #gaming