Black Saturday - Australian Red Cross

March 2009 P27‘It is unacceptableto see so manywounded people.Their lives mustbe spared and thesecurity of thosewho care for themguaranteed.’President of the International Committeeof the Red Cross, Jakob KellenbergerThe laws of warduring the Gaza crisisPalestinians survey a kindergarten destroyed after an Israeli air strike in Gaza. Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed SalemIn light ofthe recenthumanitariancrisis in Gaza,Dr Helen Durhamcomments onthe importanceof internationalhumanitarian law.In the last decade, InternationalHumanitarian Law (IHL) has gonefrom a seemingly esoteric area oflegal regulation to become an integralpart of media discussions on varioussituations involving armed conflict.Television reporters commenting onthe crisis in Gaza now use terms suchas distinction and limitation – thefundamental elements of IHL. Distinctionrequires any military attack to distinguishbetween the civilian population and theirinfrastructure and military objectives. Inso doing the aim is to limit the sufferingof civilians and to ensure that withinthe horrors of armed conflict there isa space for humanity. The principleof limitation relates to the types ofweapons warring parties are able touse and limits those weapons thathave an indiscriminate effect.Another crucial element of IHLdemonstrated during the Gaza crisisis the obligation to protect medicalpersonnel and the providers ofhumanitarian relief. The laws of war havespecific provisions requiring respect formedical teams and their equipment,and Red Cross national societies withinthe global Movement have a particularrole to play in ensuring that the woundedare not left to suffer alone and are able toreceive medical and other humanitarianassistance. Ensuring that warring factionson all sides understand the obligationsfound in IHL and, more importantly, followthese rules is an essential and extremelydifficult task. Red Cross globally spokeout strongly of the need to follow IHLduring the Gaza crisis, and AustralianRed Cross also added its voice to theconcerns expressed. President of theInternational Committee of the RedCross Jakob Kellenberger was quotedas saying, ‘It is unacceptable to see somany wounded people. Their lives mustbe spared and the security of those whocare for them guaranteed.’Through the dissemination of IHL to ourown military personnel, Federal Police,humanitarian organisations, studentsand the general public, Australian RedCross has a role as a national society tofoster an understanding of that basic butessential idea: ‘Even wars have laws’.