Bombing civilian objects is a war crime
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Since launching its latest offensive on the Gaza Strip, Israel has bombed dozens of structures, including apartments, offices, government facilities and businesses, as well as civilian infrastructure such as roads. In addition to airstrikes against high-rises reducing some to rubble that housed offices, homes and TV stations, Israel has bombed the homes of Hamas commanders and of other Gaza residents, killing dozens of people.
International humanitarian law places restrictions on the parties engaged in hostilities and defines what may and especially what may not be done as part of the fighting. Among other things, it limits attacks strictly to military objectives. These objectives are defined in Article 52(2) of the first Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions, which is universally binding. According to the article, military objectives are defined by two cumulative criteria:
A Palestinian school teacher won a $US1 million education award to applause from world leaders for her approach to teaching children through play.
Hanan Al Hroub, who teaches at the Samiha Khalil High School in the West Bank Palestinian city of Al-Bireh, was presented with the award in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Pope Francis announced the winner in a video message to the ceremony, which was chaired by UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. A child has the right to play, he said. Part of the education is to teach children how to play, because you learn how to be social through games and you learn the joy of life.
BICOM
20th May 2021
The UK media continues to be dominated by the ongoing escalation along the Gaza border.
BBC News reports that a senior Hamas official predicted Israel and the militant group would reach a ceasefire within the next two days.
The Times all report that US President Joe Biden has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to de-escalate tensions in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu rejected Bidenâs statement saying that while he âgreatly appreciates the support of the American president,â Israel was âdetermined to continue this operation until its aim is met, to return the calm and security to you, citizens of Israelâ.
Sue Surkes is The Times of Israel s environment reporter.
Fake news uncovered by student volunteers at the IDC Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, central Israel. (Courtesy IDC)
Some 180 students from Israel and overseas studying at an academic institution in Herzliya, in central Israel, are working from morning to night to monitor and foil fake news and anti-Israel propaganda on social networks and to advance the country’s point of view amid the conflict with Hamas and other Gaza terror groups, the school said.
Doing shifts of several hours each within a situation room, volunteers from various schools within the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya are trying to root out falsehoods and present the facts.