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Last update - 12:39 19/01/2009 Legal expert: Rising Gaza death toll doesn't mean IDF acts are disproportionate By Ofra Edelman Tags: Gaza, IDF, Hamas, Israel News The fact that hundreds of Palestinians have been killed during the operation in Gaza, compared to fewer than 20 Israelis, has nothing to do with the question of whether the operation is legal according to international law, says Prof. Yuval Shany, an expert in international law from Hebrew University's law faculty. The relevant question, he said, is "whether the operation is proportionate to the provocation that led to it. When a single Qassam [rocket] is fired, the state cannot invade and conquer an entire country. There must be a measure of proportion between the action and the reaction. But here, we are not talking about a single Qassam, but about years of Qassams." Israel, he continued, "is permitted to use force to the degree necessary to end the attacks against it. Therefore, it [the operation] is legal as long as it is meant to prevent the attacks." Advertisement However, Shany stressed, by law, Israel would not have the right to use force to effect regime change in the Gaza Strip. Israel would also have no right to deliberately target Palestinian civilians, even though Hamas deliberately targets Israeli civilians: One side's illegal actions do not entitle the other side to violate the law as well. "In wartime, it is permissible to attack military targets only," Shany explained. "This means targets that make a significant contribution to the other side's war effort: Qassam launchers, Hamas fighting forces, weapons storehouses and [smuggling] tunnels." Military targets can be struck even if civilians will very likely be hurt, as long as the harm to civilians is proportionate, he explained. This depends on factors such as the military value of the target, the extent of the harm suffered by civilians and the measures taken to minimize this harm. Thus, with regard to two specific dilemmas faced by Israel - whether to attack mosques being used as weapons storehouses, and also hospitals where senior Hamas commanders are holed up - Shany said: "A mosque is a more acceptable target than a hospital, because with a hospital, the assumption is that the harm to civilians will be far greater." And in fact, Israel has chosen to strike mosques, but not hospitals. However, the professor added, even a hospital does not have total immunity: Firing missiles at it would be unacceptable, but a commando force could be sent in to capture wanted Hamas men. Regarding claims that Israel has deprived Gaza of fuel and electricity, and prevented the evacuation of the wounded, Shany said that once Israel has taken control of the Strip, it must enable the population's humanitarian needs to be met. This includes an obligation to treat the wounded and to supply food, water and electricity. "The longer the army remains in an area, the greater its obligation to supply the local population's needs becomes," he added. Similarly, when Israel warns civilians to leave a house before an attack, it must ensure that they have somewhere to go and access to basic necessities such as food and water. Nevertheless, Shany noted, when United Nations agencies examined Israel's conduct during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, they praised its practice of dropping leaflets to warn civilians to leave before bombing, saying this reduced civilian casualties. Shany said it would be hard for anyone to sue Israel in the International Court of Justice in the Hague, since the country being tried must consent to have the court hear the case. However, he warned, individual European countries that claim universal jurisdiction could seek to arrest and try specific Israel Defense Forces officers for alleged war crimes. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Israeli Spiderman Police arrest man in super-hero costume harassing commuters. One man, 32 women Exposed: Tel Aviv man has 32 partners and 89 children.   1.   Whoops... Israel`s obligation. 07:01  |  Maureen Ann 12/01/09   2.   did Serbia consented to the Hague ? no 07:02  |  Prof 12/01/09   3.   Nuts! 07:28  |  Jim 12/01/09   4.   Legal expert !. 07:32  |  Orao Stranka. 12/01/09   5.   the question of "regime change" 07:34  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   6.   Proportionate force is a term dreamed up by the media 07:36  |  Shepherd 12/01/09   7.   Read that bit at the end, guys `n` gals. 07:42  |  Johnboy 12/01/09   8.   Edelman is deluded 07:43  |  Prosecutor 12/01/09   9.   proportionality 1 08:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   10.   proportionality 2 08:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   11.   REAL NUTS 08:23  |  seisen 12/01/09   12.   to Jim - you are nuts 08:23  |  goofy jew 12/01/09   13.   #1-2 Jim - Yes you are! 08:32  |  *BEN JABO 12/01/09   14.   The international legal concept of proportionality. 08:49  |  Jean Van Daem 12/01/09   15.   Nuts is right Jim... And so is the legal argument. 08:51  |  BBSNews 12/01/09   16.   Apologist for murder 08:53  |  www.kibush.co.il 12/01/09   17.   WHO CARES ABOUT INT`L LAW,WHEN ISRAEL FACES CONSTANT ANNIHILATION 08:54  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 12/01/09   18.   Jim in Tennessee 08:56  |  Michael D. 12/01/09   19.   #1 Jim 08:58  |  SM 12/01/09   20.   Jim you didn`t read the article 09:29  |  Peter Williams 12/01/09   21.   aelf defense 09:34  |  cesare 12/01/09   22.   Israelis don`t realize how ugly you look to the world 09:38  |  Victor 12/01/09   23.   Legitimacy is not the same as proportionality 09:39  |  Brahim Abid 12/01/09   24.   NOW about Hamas war criminals firing from Gazan homes and schools 10:11  |  PETER SM 12/01/09   25.   calling for peace 10:11  |  tikkun ha`olam 12/01/09   26.   Who`s Nuts? 10:13  |  Jim Not Nuts 12/01/09   27.   Wake up Israel 10:14  |  Larry 12/01/09   28.   It`s nice that they found such a neutral, unbiased source ... 10:14  |  Homer Snodtgrass 12/01/09   29.   When was proportionality an issue?? 10:16  |  Zev 12/01/09   30.   Proportionality may be a legal question 10:27  |  sh 12/01/09   31.   Legal experts 10:28  |  Baruch 12/01/09   32.   Go Cipora Julianna Kohn 10:36  |  Thank you 12/01/09   33.   #18, Brahim Abid 10:40  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   34.   deaths are low because EVERY Israeli home has a bomb shelter. 10:43  |  Israel protects kids 12/01/09   35.   proportionality 3 10:43  |  varda 12/01/09   36.   VICTOR now that Hamas war crimes are blatant,change tack 10:45  |  PETER SM 12/01/09   37.   To JB (#2): So what? 10:45  |  Morris Valentine 12/01/09   38.   disproportionate and more 10:48  |  Carol SCHELLER 12/01/09   39.   This guy`s so got it wrong. 10:58  |  Michael 12/01/09   40.   To Zev # 27 11:19  |  Beni 12/01/09   41.   #28, sh 11:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   42.   #39, Michael, actually, wrong 11:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   43.   #33 Cipora Julianna Kohn 12:00  |  Brahim 12/01/09   44.   Years of Qassams were after years of stone throwing 12:00  |  Tupac 12/01/09   45.   To SM Re #1 Jim 12:02  |  Bruto 12/01/09   46.   Only in Israel... 12:03  |  Natallie Durson 12/01/09   47.   Only in Israel (2) 12:06  |  Natallie Durson 12/01/09   48.   to Victor 12:13  |  Asher 12/01/09   49.   Cipora: 1st Intifada 1987-93 were stones against IDF not Rockets 12:14  |  Tupac 12/01/09   50.   LEGAL EXPERTS 12:16  |  Neutered Observer 12/01/09   51.   the truth, and nothing but the truth 12:19  |  Njord Røv 12/01/09   52.   An Israeli Jew saying what 12:21  |  Chris Linthwaite 12/01/09   53.   34 nonsense! 12:24  |  T 12/01/09   54.   Cipora No. 41 12:26  |  Marcos 12/01/09   55.   proportionate comparing to... 12:27  |  Anne 12/01/09   56.   I`m afraid you`re wrong CJK 42 12:28  |  Michael 12/01/09   57.   A QUESTION to this Legal expert, or TO ANYONE who agrees with him 12:31  |  JustMe 12/01/09   58.   # 20 Peter Williams 12:39  |  Jim 12/01/09   59.   MICHAEL UK Firing missile at civillians is NOT "resistance" 12:41  |  PETER SM 12/01/09   60.   it doesnt...? 12:46  |  ravi 12/01/09   61.   Victor from California USA (#22) well we don`t Care 12:47  |  Gil 12/01/09   62.   # 47 Truth? everyone has their own `truth.` 12:52  |  Petra 12/01/09   63.   Re: Nuts 12:53  |  Brad 12/01/09   64.   # 38 YOU read it, we cheer for Israel. 12:54  |  Petra 12/01/09   65.   CJK #41 12:54  |  sh 12/01/09   66.   # 37 Morris Valentine Amen and Ditto 12:56  |  Petra 12/01/09   67.   Not changing Hamas regime is cruel 13:02  |  ME 12/01/09   68.   Michael always the wrong angle 13:10  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 12/01/09   69.   JUIST me the"ROOT" of the problem is the Hamas charter 13:10  |  PETER SM 12/01/09   70.   54 Peter SM. Qassams are resistance by terror. 13:10  |  Michael 12/01/09   71.   Acceptable amount of dead civilians? 13:15  |  Yokum 12/01/09   72.   A PROFESSOR FROM HEBREW UNIVERSITY? 13:22  |  indrajaya 12/01/09   73.   #39 Michael 13:25  |  Jim 12/01/09   74.   #38 Cadol SCHELLER 13:33  |  Jim 12/01/09   75.   Forward looking action 13:34  |  Arno 12/01/09   76.   `Disproportionate"? 13:45  |  Mark Lincoln 12/01/09   77.   MICHAEL UK Moslem terrorists have called Australia 13:46  |  PETER SM 12/01/09   78.   Yokum - Acceptable? 13:47  |  Mark Lincoln 12/01/09   79.   Unable to read 13:56  |  Murray 12/01/09   80.   #63, sh 14:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09   81.   Margie 66 One-sided as always. 14:05  |  Michael 12/01/09   82.   #22 Victor...in the eyes of the world 14:25  |  Lynn 12/01/09   83.   #68 Margie in TA 14:30  |  Boycott 12/01/09   84.   #71 Yokum....how many are acceptable? 14:30  |  Lynn 12/01/09   85.   #72 INDY....his credibility is much higher 14:31  |  Lynn 12/01/09   86.   #63 Brad 14:35  |  Boycott 12/01/09   87.   Typical propoganda 14:47  |  Greg 12/01/09   88.   Yokum # 71 There Is No Absolute Limit 14:56  |  Jeff Northridge 12/01/09   89.   Boycott & Michael 14:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 12/01/09   90.   Sorry Prof. Yuval Shany. World doesn`t care - we succeed or die 14:57  |  Mark Leaman 12/01/09   91.   to Jim - 4000 missiles is a handful? 18:57  |  rob 12/01/09   92.   Rocket Attacks 19:25  |  J Davis 12/01/09   93.   Jim #3 20:41  |  Gee 12/01/09   94.   as I have mentioned countless times... 20:49  |  Mark 12/01/09   95.   as I have mentioned countless times... 20:49  |  Mark 12/01/09   96.   The Real Provocations 22:01  |  Doubleclick 12/01/09   97.   Natallie Durson, misguided and one sided 22:42  |  leo 12/01/09   98.   To #1- Maureen ..the legal Expert is wrong and you`re right ! 22:58  |  Romy 12/01/09   99.   About the percentage of dead? 23:04  |  Jack 12/01/09   100.   Not surprised MV Given your roots 00:00  |  Labhras 13/01/09   101.   Meanwhile Back in the USA 00:35  |  Fromm 13/01/09   102.   Appearance in the Court of World Opinion 00:38  |  Arthur_500 13/01/09   103.   Palestinians are solely to blame 02:30  |  Maroush 13/01/09   104.   Gaza vs. Sedrot, Sderot is less 02:37  |  Fritz T. 13/01/09   105.   "Disproportionate force" is a ludicrous concept. We must win! 02:39  |  Chaim 13/01/09   106.   #46 Durston 05:48  |  Hummus lover 13/01/09   107.   Jimmy Get a Clue 06:26  |  Not a Hillbilly from 13/01/09   108.   IDF Support 06:32  |  Proud 13/01/09   109.   More IDF propaganda 06:54  |  Jeffrey 13/01/09   110.   Two Victors 06:56  |  Victor 13/01/09   111.   Disproportionate Response 07:06  |  A Jew 13/01/09   112.   What law???? 07:24  |  Benny Lo 13/01/09   113.   #43, Brahim 1 07:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/01/09   114.   this article 08:17  |  Urchin 13/01/09   115.   MODERATOR - WHat is your problem with my posts? 08:32  |  PADDY 13/01/09   116.   OPEN YOUR EYES ! 08:35  |  Me 13/01/09   117.   Cipora 08:40  |  David R. Zukerman 13/01/09   118.   #72 Indrajaya 08:42  |  Daybreak 13/01/09   119.   Disproportionate acts? 08:51  |  Joma Urbano 13/01/09   120.   Arthur_500 09:33  |  David R. Zukerman 13/01/09   121.   #91 rob 09:36  |  Jim 13/01/09   122.   Me, So why did not Haniya offer peace for 67 lines? 09:37  |  Eve 13/01/09   123.   Moderator censors posts critical of Israel 09:42  |  Larry 13/01/09   124.   #95 Mark 09:44  |  Jim 13/01/09   125.   Number of Gaza casualties can`t be trusted 19:05  |  Dan 13/01/09   126.   #123 Larry - Moderator is quite tolerant 20:44  |  *BEN JABO 13/01/09   127.   Jeffrey - Denver 20:48  |  *BEN JABO 13/01/09   128.   To Labhras (#100) 05:40  |  Morris Valentine 14/01/09   129.   #122 Because he doesn`t speek for "Palestine", Eve 07:26  |  Johnboy 14/01/09   130.   #125 Haven`t you noticed something odd, Dan? 07:34  |  Johnboy 14/01/09

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