Israel has so far imposed three internet shutdowns in Gaza, all of which had a devastating impact. Humanitarian organisations lost contact with aid workers, and media houses were unable to reach their reporters, preventing them from reporting from Gaza in real time as Israel’s ground invasion intensified. The ongoing conflict means it is increasingly difficult for people to access and share information they need, and for those witnessing and experiencing rights violations to share their accounts. Shutting down communications systems can never be justified under international human rights law. Under international humanitarian law, attacks against any civilian infrastructure must adhere to targeting rules, including the distinction between military and civilian objects, the principle of proportionality and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks. International humanitarian law further forbids collective punishment by imposing penalties on people without a clear lawful basis.
Any party to a conflict, regardless of how the conflict was prompted, is obliged to comply with the laws of war. The attacks by Hamas on 7 October do not exempt Israel from its obligations under international humanitarian law, which is rooted in the acknowledgement that armed conflicts exist but that even during these conflicts the harm that can be caused is not without limits.
|