Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Math Junkie]

Thanks for the info on Geneva Convention signatory status.

"These are humanitarian rules that must be obeyed by all humanity."

I looked up the Geneva Convention on protecting civilians, and it says that parties to the convention are bound it, but it does not say that powers who are not parties to it are bound by it. Of course, one could argue that they are morally bound, even if they are not legally bound.

Incidentally, it also says that parties to the convention are bound by it when dealing with powers who are not parties to it if the latter accept and apply its provisions. (See Article 2.) Since the Palestinians clearly do not do so, if Israel became convinced of Sylvester's point of view that seeking to maximize civilian casualties is justified, it would apparently not be a violation of the Geneva Conventions for them to do so.

http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/7c4d08d9b287a42141256739003e636b/6756482d86146898c125641e004aa3c5?OpenDo...