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The parties to the conflict shall, in so far as military considerations permit, take thenecessary steps to make the distinctive emblems indicating civilian hospitals clearly visible tothe enemy land, air, and naval forces in order to obviate the possibility of any hostile action. 4317.17.3 Location of Civilian Hospitals. In view of the dangers to which civilian hospitalsmay be exposed by being close to military objectives, it is recommended that such hospitals besituated as far as possible from such objectives. 432This provision of the GC was drafted because the protection for civilian hospitals in theGC does not confer immunity on military objectives situated close to the hospital or restrict theright to make such military objectives the object of attack. 4337.17.4 Protection of Civilian Hospital Personnel.7.17.4.1 Civilian Hospital Personnel Who Are Regularly and Solely Engaged.Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals,including the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of, and caring forwounded and sick civilians, the infirm, and maternity cases, shall be respected and protected atall times. 434 For example, a surgeon who works regularly in a hospital, but is not exclusivelyemployed there, would not be engaged “solely” in hospital duties and would consequently not becovered by this provision, but could fall under the category of “other civilian hospitalpersonnel.” 435In occupied territory and in zones of military operations, civilian hospital personnel whoare regularly and solely engaged in hospital duties shall be recognizable by means of an identitycard certifying their status, bearing the photograph of the holder and embossed with the stamp ofthe responsible authority, and also by means of a stamped, water-resistant armlet that they shall431 GC art. 18 (“The Parties to the conflict shall, in so far as military considerations permit, take the necessary stepsto make the distinctive emblems indicating civilian hospitals clearly visible to the enemy land, air and naval forcesin order to obviate the possibility of any hostile action.”).432 GC art. 18 (“In view of the dangers to which civilian hospitals may be exposed by being close to militaryobjectives, it is recommended that such hospitals be situated as far as possible from such objectives.”).433 GC COMMENTARY 153 (“The last paragraph shows clearly that wide as that scope is, it is not intended to conferimmunity on military objectives situated close to a hospital or to restrict the right to attack them as such. It is forthat reason that the legal protection accorded to military hospitals must be accompanied by practical measures toensure that they are situated as far as possible from military objectives and to protect them from the accidentalconsequences of attacks on such objectives. If that is not done the protection is very likely to be illusory, even if thehospitals are clearly marked.”).434 GC art. 20 (“Persons regularly and solely engaged in the operation and administration of civilian hospitals,including the personnel engaged in the search for, removal and transporting of and caring for wounded and sickcivilians, the infirm and maternity cases, shall be respected and protected.”).435 GC COMMENTARY 159 (“For example, a surgeon who works regularly in a hospital, but is not exclusivelyemployed there because he devotes part of his time to his private practice, or again, voluntary laboratory assistantsor auxiliaries, who only work at the hospital for part of the day, or for one or two days a week, would not beengaged ‘solely’ in hospital duties and would consequently not be covered by paragraph 1.”).480