More than 100 experts on international law have signed an open letter expressing profound concern about serious violations of international law attributed to the US, Israel, and Iran during the Middle East war. The letter indicates that the US-Israeli decision to launch attacks on Iran breaches the United Nations Charter, which restricts the use of force outside of self-defense or without UN Security Council authorization. Experts noted alarming rhetoric from officials, including US President Trump's threats to obliterate Iran's power plants.
In response, the White House contended that Trump was improving regional safety and dismissed concerns from what it described as so-called experts. The letter specifically notes comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding not giving any quarter to enemies, which refers to the refusal to spare any enemy combatants' lives. This violates international law prohibitions against declaring no quarter will be given, a stipulation also included in the US Department of Defense's own law of war manual.
The experts' letter underscores that such threats can result in serious harm to civilians and undermine fundamental norms designed to protect non-combatants. The document also references a devastating attack on a primary school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of the conflict, which reportedly killed at least 168 people, including 110 children. It calls for investigations into the nature of these strikes, which experts argue likely constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes if negligence is proven.
The letter, published in Just Security, concludes with a passionate appeal for adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law to protect civilians and maintain order amid escalating military actions.
In response, the White House contended that Trump was improving regional safety and dismissed concerns from what it described as so-called experts. The letter specifically notes comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding not giving any quarter to enemies, which refers to the refusal to spare any enemy combatants' lives. This violates international law prohibitions against declaring no quarter will be given, a stipulation also included in the US Department of Defense's own law of war manual.
The experts' letter underscores that such threats can result in serious harm to civilians and undermine fundamental norms designed to protect non-combatants. The document also references a devastating attack on a primary school in Minab, Iran, on the first day of the conflict, which reportedly killed at least 168 people, including 110 children. It calls for investigations into the nature of these strikes, which experts argue likely constitute violations of international humanitarian law and could amount to war crimes if negligence is proven.
The letter, published in Just Security, concludes with a passionate appeal for adherence to the rules of international humanitarian law to protect civilians and maintain order amid escalating military actions.
