Jus ad bellum, jus in bello and targeted killings

: pagers and walkie-talkies: fear in everyday devices

Abstract

Targeted killings are a controversial practice under International Law. It consists in the use of lethal force against enemies to kill them with precision, this is done, mostly, extraterritorial. Issues of data and information, the difference between civilians and combatants, as well as the difference between civilian and non-civilian objects are some of the topics contested when it comes to the use of this practice, and even the fact that it causes division in the international community regarding its legality under Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello. A recent example is the pagers and walkie-talkies explosions in Lebanon and Syria where in a, supposedly, targeted operation, conducted by Israel, many civilians were casualties of this attack, with diplomatic ramifications, involving foreign diplomats to the countries concerned. The whole operation is involved in many doubts and concerns regarding its validity under International Law, specifically, Jus ad Bellum and Jus in Bello. The way the operation was conducted brought about reactions all over the world from the UN to Amnesty condemning this action and its consequences in the communities and on-going conflict. The numbers demonstrate that from an apparently precise action came consequences that made the international community question if principles such as Proportionality and Distinction, which are fundamental, where applied in this operation.

Date of Award	17 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	José Azeredo Lopes (Supervisor)