Marc Weller on what international law has to say about the Israel-Hamas conflict
Military advantage must be balanced against the risk of civilian casualties, even when vital interests are at stake, says the law professor
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LAW ACCEPTS the reality that war is a feature of human relations. Hence, law in war is meant to strike a balance between the need to use force in extreme circumstances and the wish to reduce the prospect of war and keep the associated human suffering to a minimum. This balancing act takes two forms. The UN Charter limits the right of states to make war. Humanitarian law limits the means of warfare.
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