The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) has warned against the continued bombing of residential buildings inside the Gaza Strip. As has been reported by multiple media outlets, dozens of houses have been destroyed since the start of the current war, resulting in the deaths of dozens of innocent civilians, including more than 20 children.
According to the laws of war, armed forces are required to adopt measures to avoid civilian casualties even when attacking legitimate military targets, and certainly when the legitimacy of the target is questionable. Generally, residential buildings, both in the Gaza Strip and in Israel, are considered civilian sites and do not constitute a legitimate military objective. When there is concern about the possibility of civilian casualties, or when there are clear indications that civilian casualties will eventuate, a military attack must be avoided.
ACRI has further warned against the possible harm caused to the civilian population through the use of improper and illegal measures, such as the disconnection of Gaza from the electricity grid, as a means to exert physical and psychological pressure on its citizens.
