Human Rights Watch Weighs in on Gaza

And here are their recommendations:

To minimize civilian casualties during a possible ground offensive in Gaza, Human Rights Watch urged the IDF and Hamas and other Palestinian forces to implement the following recommendations:

To the IDF:

*In the conduct of military operations, take constant care in accordance with the laws of war to spare the civilian population.

*Issue clear rules of engagement that adhere strictly to the laws of war prohibition against attacks that target or indiscriminately harm civilians and the requirement to distinguish at all times between civilians and combatants.

*Adhere to the prohibition against disproportionate attacks by not launching any attack that may be expected to cause harm to civilians or damage to civilian objects that would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.

*Ensure the unhindered movement of medical personnel and ambulances to carry out their duties and of wounded persons to access medical care. Any restrictions on movement for genuine security grounds must be temporary, subject to regular review, and imposed only to the extent absolutely necessary.

*Do not make coercive use of civilians to facilitate military operations, such as by using them as "human shields." Avoid compelling Palestinian civilians to remain inside homes or other structures taken over by the IDF for military operations.
Take all necessary steps to ensure that the civilian population has access to sufficient food, medical care, and other essential humanitarian goods and services.

*Provide troops with non-lethal means to deal with possible crowd-control situations.

*Allow journalists and humanitarian agencies access to Gaza and ensure that any restrictions on access and movement for genuine security grounds be temporary, subject to regular review, and only imposed to the extent absolutely necessary.

To Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups:


*In the conduct of military operations, take constant care in accordance with the laws of war to spare the civilian population.

*Cease all deliberate and indiscriminate rocket attacks against Israeli population centers.

*Take all feasible precautions to protect the civilian population under their control against the effects of attacks, including by avoiding conducting military operations from or locating military objectives within or near densely populated areas, and, to the extent feasible, removing civilians from the vicinity of military objectives.

*Do not use civilians as "human shields" by using them for the purpose of protecting combatants or other military objectives from attack, or to favor or impede military operations.