In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece today (login required), Alan Dershowitz addresses the concern of ensuring proportionate warfare, or rather what is–and what is not–considered proportionate. Israel recognizes the necessity to conduct a war morally, a sensitivity Hamas exploits by placing civilians as human shields in or near potential targets. Whereas Israel acts to protect its civilian population, Hamas flaunts the laws of war in the face of the international community.
The introductory paragraph for interested parties:
Israel’s actions in Gaza are justified under international law, and Israel should be commended for its self-defense against terrorism. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter reserves to every nation the right to engage in self-defense against armed attacks. The only limitation international law places on a democracy is that its actions must satisfy the principle of proportionality.
There is nothing new in the current events in Gaza. I personally laud Israel for pursuing the aggression against Hamas terrorism. What has been happening was civilians are suffering mishaps and casualties because their government allow terrorists to encamp amidst the population. Then, as they continuously provoke Israel and resort to terroristic activities like rocket launches aimed at Israel’s populace, they seem to use their people as pawns for international demonization of Israel, and at the same time as shield to avoid Jewish gov’t retaliation.