Originally Posted by Yirmeyahu

shek,

Non-combatants killed during a military operation as a result of indiscriminate warfare is a war crime.

Under international law, "The presence within the civilian population of individuals who do not come within the definition of civilians does not deprive the population of its civilian character".

Furthermore, "The civilian population as such, as well as individual civilians, shall not be the object of attack. Acts or threats of violence the primary purpose of which is to spread terror among the civilian population are prohibited."

"Indiscriminate attacks" are also prohibited, defined as "those which employ a method or means of combat the effects of which cannot be limited as required by this Protocol; and consequently, in each such case, are of a nature to strike military objectives and civilians or civilian objects without distinciton."

This includes "An attack which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated."

The deliberate bombing of civilian infrastructure, the bombing of populated civilian areas, the use of indiscriminate weapons such as cluster munitions... These are all war crimes.