Is Israel violating laws of war meant to protect children?
The main pillars of protection for children during armed conflict are the Geneva Conventions
Thousands of Palestinians are fleeing to already overwhelmed areas in the south of Gaza through unsafe conditions that could especially pose a risk to children, at least 447 of whom have already been killed in Israeli air strikes since Saturday.
As some families in the northern part of the Gaza Strip make their way south with hopes of finding a safer place and basic necessities, here is a look at international laws that are meant to protect children, reports Al-Jazeera.
What laws of war protect civilians and children?
The main pillars of protection for children during armed conflict are the Geneva Conventions.
The Geneva Conventions form the core of international humanitarian law. Their four conventions were adopted over a series of treaties between 1864 and 1949.
The fourth Geneva Convention, adopted in 1949 in the aftermath of World War II, is centred on affording protection to civilians, including in occupied territories.
On July 6, 1951, the still newly formed state of Israel ratified the Geneva Conventions – one of 196 countries to have done so.
How do the Geneva Conventions apply to Palestinian children?
Several articles and additional protocols, particularly in the fourth convention, afford protection to children during armed conflict.
These include: Establishing hospitals and safety zones for children under the age of 15, ensuring access to "essential foodstuffs, clothing and tonics" for children in areas that are under siege, special care for children who are orphaned or separated from their families, evacuating children to safe areas and reuniting them with their families, when children are evacuated, ensure that "ministers of all religions, medical personnel, and medical equipment" are available where children are moved.
How are children affected by Israel's attacks on Gaza?
In addition to the hundreds of children who have been killed by Israeli air strikes, children in Gaza are also being deprived of food and medicine – in violation of the fourth Geneva Convention.
That is because Israel announced a "total blockade" of Gaza after the Hamas attack in southern Israel last Saturday, making clear that it would not allow food, medicines, fuel and other essential commodities into the coastal enclave.
International organisations have been calling for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor, claiming that Gaza's medical facilities are at "breaking point". So far, Israel has refused to budge, and has bombed the Rafah crossing that connects the enclave to Egypt.
Power and generators that have stopped working are also putting newborns in incubators at risk, according to a statement from Fabrizio Carboni, the International Committee of the Red Cross regional director for the Near and Middle East.
What about education?
The fourth Geneva Convention says that children have a right to the protection of their cultural environment and their education.
Yet, already, Israel has bombed dozens of schools in the Gaza Strip, including several run by the United Nations, which were also serving as shelters where people moved after their houses and neighbourhoods were attacked in missile strikes.
In all, at least 90 educational institutions have been damaged in Israeli bombing so far.
International law also requires occupying forces to ensure the education of those living under their control.
Who can prosecute violations of international law?
Courts such as the International Criminal Court at The Hague can launch an investigation to determine whether casualties in Palestine and Israel are in violation of international law.
The ICC has, in the past, begun investigations into potential war crimes committed by Israeli forces in Palestinian territories, but has not held anyone accountable to date.
Bill number HR 2407 or "Promoting Human Rights for Palestinian Children Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act" was reintroduced to the US Congress in May.
It calls on banning Israel's government from using US tax dollars in the occupied West Bank for violations including "the military detention, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention".
What has happened to past violators of war laws?
Although the Geneva Conventions require violations to be punished, prosecutions have rarely occurred in the past for a variety of reasons, including that "the State officials themselves have been implicated, the accused persons are not within the jurisdiction of the States," or because of "other political sensitivity," said Lok Yip via email.
In the event of potential violations, investigations and prosecutions are handled by the ICC. In some cases, special courts may also be set up.
However, Israel, the United States, and Russia are among countries that do not recognise the jurisdiction of the ICC.