Quote:
Originally Posted by PointlessWords
Palestine doesn’t have a regular army and never has. They are all civilians
Not necessarily. Under the 1977 Protocols to the Geneva Conventions, 'civilians who directly take part in hostilities temporarily lose the protection provided for civilians, but only for the duration of their participation in the hostilities.' The Third Geneva Convention of 1949 already included as combatants 'members of other militias and members of volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements belonging to a party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied,' and even 'inhabitants of a non-occupied territory, who on the approach of the enemy spontaneously take up arms to resist the invading forces, without having had time to form themselves into regular armed units, provided they carry arms openly and respect the laws and customs of war'.
Protocol I says that combatants are 'the armed forces of a party to a conflict, and also groups and units that are under a command responsible to that party for the conduct of its subordinates, even if that party is answerable to a government or an authority not recognized by an adverse party.' (Arts. 43 and 50, 1977.)
Guerrillas or irregular forces may conceal arms at times but must carry them openly during engagements to be recognised as combatants rather than criminals.
Handy guide to the law here:-
https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/c.../3/combatants/