An Innocent Murder? The Laws of International Armed Conflict and the 2006 Tragedy at Qana

Document Type

Article

Authors

Brendan Groves, Pepperdine University

Abstract

In the early morning of June 30, 2006, Israeli warplanes struck a civilian apartment complex in Qana, Lebanon, killing some 28 persons, none of whom were thought to have been Hezbollah militants. Footage of the attack was streamed instantly across the world, leading many to decry Israel’s tactics in its conflict against Hezbollah. But did the attack actually violate the Laws of International Armed Conflict? Or, worse, does the attack epitomize the notion of an innocent murder—terrible, perhaps immoral, but lawful? Furthermore, do Hezbollah’s violations of the LOIAC excuse reactionary violations by Israel? This paper offers an analysis of the incident at Qana, drawing from the LOIAC, reports by international observers, and statements from involved parties to determine that Israel’s attack did not likely transgress the LOIAC, demonstrating the limits of international law and its relative detachment from morality.

Recommended Citation

Groves, Brendan (2007) "An Innocent Murder? The Laws of International Armed Conflict and the 2006 Tragedy at Qana," Global Tides: Vol. 1, Article 1.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/globaltides/vol1/iss1/1