“Active” Human Shielding and the Law of Armed Conflict

“Active” Human Shielding and the Law of Armed Conflict

“Active” Human Shielding and the Law of Armed Conflict To counter Israel Defense Force (IDF) superiority, Hamas long ago adopted the strategy of human shielding, one widely condemned as unlawful (see, e.g., here, here, and here). But reports have also emerged...
Lieber Studies Series – Military Investigations

Lieber Studies Series – Military Investigations

Lieber Studies Series – Military Investigations Editors’ note: This post is based on the author’s chapter in Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict: Select Issues (Jelena Pejic and Margaret Kotlik eds. 2025), the eleventh volume of the Lieber Studies Series published...
Lieber Studies Series – Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict: Select Issues

Lieber Studies Series – Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict: Select Issues

Lieber Studies Series – Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict: Select Issues Civilian protection is a basic aim and legal obligation of international humanitarian law (IHL) or the law of armed conflict (LOAC). Yet, as recent and ongoing armed conflicts in Gaza, Sudan,...
Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Releasing Civilian Hostages and Returning Hostage Remains

Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Releasing Civilian Hostages and Returning Hostage Remains

Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Releasing Civilian Hostages and Returning Hostage Remains On 7 October 2023, Hamas fighters took 251 hostages during its infamous attack on Israel. Although many were Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers, the vast majority were civilians,...
Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Humanitarian Relief as a Bargaining Chip

Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Humanitarian Relief as a Bargaining Chip

Israel-Hamas 2025 Symposium – Humanitarian Relief as a Bargaining Chip Questions concerning the use of the starvation of civilians as a method of warfare have been discussed at length over the course of the past 536 days of war in the Gaza Strip. Some have submitted...