Guardian

International law meant to limit effects of war at breaking point, study finds

Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights

WAR WATCH IHL IN FOCUS REPORT

International Committee of the Red Cross

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A report by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, examining 23 armed conflicts between July 2024 and December 2025, has concluded that widespread violations have pushed international humanitarian law (IHL) to a "critical breaking point."

A report by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, examining 23 armed conflicts between July 2024 and December 2025, has concluded that widespread violations have pushed international humanitarian law (IHL) to a "critical breaking point."

While the academy was unable to pinpoint the number of civilian fatalities across both years, it estimates that state and non-state actors killed "well over" 100,000 civilians across 2024 and 2025 in regular, and at times systematic, attacks, with massacres reported in Burkina Faso, Colombia, Haiti, Sudan and Syria.

While the academy was unable to pinpoint the number of civilian fatalities across both years, it estimates that state and non-state actors killed "well over" 100,000 civilians across 2024 and 2025 in regular, and at times systematic, attacks, with massacres reported in Burkina Faso, Colombia, Haiti, Sudan and Syria.

The majority of these deaths were recorded in Gaza, where more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including approximately 18,592 children and 12,400 women by the end of December 2025.

The majority of these deaths were recorded in Gaza, where more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, including approximately 18,592 children and 12,400 women by the end of December 2025.

Civilian infrastructure, including medical centers, was also widely targeted, with Russia deploying munitions against residential areas in Ukraine — where civilian casualties were the highest in 2025 in three years — and Israeli bombing campaigns destroying 78% of all structures in Gaza, including roughly 282,000 homes.

Civilian infrastructure, including medical centers, was also widely targeted, with Russia deploying munitions against residential areas in Ukraine — where civilian casualties were the highest in 2025 in three years — and Israeli bombing campaigns destroying 78% of all structures in Gaza, including roughly 282,000 homes.

In addition, the academy documented sexual and gender-based violence in almost every conflict examined. The Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular, was noted as having experienced an "epidemic" of such violence, involving victims ranging from ages one to 75.

In addition, the academy documented sexual and gender-based violence in almost every conflict examined. The Democratic Republic of Congo, in particular, was noted as having experienced an "epidemic" of such violence, involving victims ranging from ages one to 75.

To tackle the abuses, the report recommends prohibiting weapon exports when there is a "clear risk" of facilitating serious IHL violations, outlawing the use of inaccurate ordinance against populated areas and ensuring the systematic prosecution of war crimes through adequate support for the International Criminal Court and domestic tribunals.

To tackle the abuses, the report recommends prohibiting weapon exports when there is a "clear risk" of facilitating serious IHL violations, outlawing the use of inaccurate ordinance against populated areas and ensuring the systematic prosecution of war crimes through adequate support for the International Criminal Court and domestic tribunals.

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International Committee of the Red Cross #

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A report by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights examined 23 armed conflicts between July 2024 and December 2025, concluding that international humanitarian law is at a critical breaking point due to widespread violations.

A report by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights examined 23 armed conflicts between July 2024 and December 2025, concluding that international humanitarian law is at a critical breaking point due to widespread violations.

The report estimates that more than 100,000 civilians were killed annually in both 2024 and 2025 across the conflicts examined. Serious violations of international humanitarian law were committed on a huge scale with rampant impunity.

The report estimates that more than 100,000 civilians were killed annually in both 2024 and 2025 across the conflicts examined. Serious violations of international humanitarian law were committed on a huge scale with rampant impunity.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that by the end of December 2025, victims included 18,592 children and about 12,400 women killed since October 2023. Gaza's population fell by about 254,000 people, a 10.6% decline.

In Gaza, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics reported that by the end of December 2025, victims included 18,592 children and about 12,400 women killed since October 2023. Gaza's population fell by about 254,000 people, a 10.6% decline.

More civilians were killed in Ukraine in 2025 than in the two previous years, with a recorded total of 2,514 deaths representing a 70% increase compared to 2023. Russian drone attacks deliberately targeted civilians in multiple instances.

More civilians were killed in Ukraine in 2025 than in the two previous years, with a recorded total of 2,514 deaths representing a 70% increase compared to 2023. Russian drone attacks deliberately targeted civilians in multiple instances.

Sexual and gender-based violence was documented in almost every conflict examined. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an epidemic of such violence was perpetrated by almost all parties, with victims ranging from year-old infants to 75-year-olds.

Sexual and gender-based violence was documented in almost every conflict examined. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an epidemic of such violence was perpetrated by almost all parties, with victims ranging from year-old infants to 75-year-olds.

The report recommends prohibiting weapons exports where there is clear risk of facilitating serious violations, banning use of unguided gravity bombs in populated areas and ensuring systematic prosecution of war crimes through adequate support for tribunals.

The report recommends prohibiting weapons exports where there is clear risk of facilitating serious violations, banning use of unguided gravity bombs in populated areas and ensuring systematic prosecution of war crimes through adequate support for tribunals.

International humanitarian law stands at a breaking point as over 100,000 civilians die annually in armed conflicts marked by systematic targeting of hospitals, schools and homes. The deliberate murder, torture and rape of detainees alongside widespread use of starvation as a weapon of war demands immediate action through weapons export restrictions and prosecution of war crimes. Rampant impunity erodes the deterrent effect of law itself, making sustained support for judicial accountability mechanisms an urgent policy priority.

International humanitarian law stands at a breaking point as over 100,000 civilians die annually in armed conflicts marked by systematic targeting of hospitals, schools and homes. The deliberate murder, torture and rape of detainees alongside widespread use of starvation as a weapon of war demands immediate action through weapons export restrictions and prosecution of war crimes. Rampant impunity erodes the deterrent effect of law itself, making sustained support for judicial accountability mechanisms an urgent policy priority.

International law has ceased to exist as anything more than rhetoric after decades of selective enforcement exposed its fundamental weakness. The strong nations do whatever they can while the weak suffer whatever they must, revealing that legal frameworks mean nothing without the power to enforce them. Pretending otherwise just perpetuates a dangerous fiction that prevents realistic assessment of how conflicts actually get resolved.

International law has ceased to exist as anything more than rhetoric after decades of selective enforcement exposed its fundamental weakness. The strong nations do whatever they can while the weak suffer whatever they must, revealing that legal frameworks mean nothing without the power to enforce them. Pretending otherwise just perpetuates a dangerous fiction that prevents realistic assessment of how conflicts actually get resolved.

Gordon G. Chang

The Salt Of The Earth

War Crimes Rampant: 100K+ Civilians Killed Annually

World

Armed conflict

Freedom & human rights

The findings of this report make it clear that IHL stands on a knife-edge, with widespread violations reported in every conflict examined. If allowed to continue, these abuses will ensure that the wars of the future will be ever more depraved and blood-soaked, necessitating urgent policy action to constrain these war crimes and restore the proper rules of engagement.

The findings of this report make it clear that IHL stands on a knife-edge, with widespread violations reported in every conflict examined. If allowed to continue, these abuses will ensure that the wars of the future will be ever more depraved and blood-soaked, necessitating urgent policy action to constrain these war crimes and restore the proper rules of engagement.

What this report fails to recognise is that the international rules-based order upon which IHL rests no longer exists, if it ever really did in the first place, following decades of lax enforcement. The new reality is that of the old, that the powerful and the armed will do whatever they feel that they must or want, and that those powerless to stop it will suffer as a result.

What this report fails to recognise is that the international rules-based order upon which IHL rests no longer exists, if it ever really did in the first place, following decades of lax enforcement. The new reality is that of the old, that the powerful and the armed will do whatever they feel that they must or want, and that those powerless to stop it will suffer as a result.

There is a 26% chance that Israel will be found guilty in South Africa's genocide case by the ICJ before January 1, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There is a 26% chance that Israel will be found guilty in South Africa's genocide case by the ICJ before January 1, 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

International Humanitarian Law at "Critical Breaking Point," According to Report

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