Description

It was the wisest of men who said there comes “a time for war, and a time for peace”. The doctrine of a just war was later formulated by Aristotle, Cicero and Augustine and finally incorporated in Article 51 of the UN Charter which states that “nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence...”

Much has been said about the military operation Israel conducted against Hamas and doubt has been raised over its moral and legal legitimacy. So, was the war on Hamas immoral? Is any war indeed just?

To answer these questions, one needs to examine the general principles of just war theory including the criteria for justice preceding the war, justice in war, and post-war justice.