ICRC president urges respect for rules of war as major military escalation starts in the Middle East

2026-02-28 · Source: International Committee of the Red Cross · Field: Government & Public Sector — Public Safety & Security, International Relations & Diplomacy, Public Policy & Governance · Depth: Fundamental Awareness, quick

Summary

ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric issued a statement urging adherence to the rules of war amidst a significant military escalation in the Middle East, warning of devastating consequences for civilians. The statement emphasizes that international humanitarian law, specifically the four Geneva Conventions, applies in international armed conflicts, mandating the protection of civilian infrastructure like hospitals, homes, and schools, and ensuring the safety of medical personnel and first responders. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has teams in Iran, Israel, and across the region, ready to provide humanitarian aid within its mandate and operational capacity, collaborating with Red Cross and Red Crescent partners. However, the ICRC stresses that humanitarian efforts alone cannot mitigate the suffering caused by continuous conflict, highlighting the critical need for political will to achieve peace and prevent further destruction.

Key takeaway

For policy makers and military strategists involved in regional conflicts, your adherence to international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Conventions, is paramount to prevent widespread civilian suffering. Ensure that all military operations explicitly protect civilian infrastructure and medical personnel, as humanitarian aid alone cannot offset the destruction caused by continuous conflict.

Key insights

Adherence to international humanitarian law is crucial to protect civilians during military escalations.

Principles

• Rules of war are obligatory, not optional.
• Civilian infrastructure must be spared from attack.
• Medical personnel must operate safely.

In practice

• Support ICRC's regional humanitarian efforts.
• Advocate for political will to achieve peace.

Topics

• International Humanitarian Law
• Middle East Conflict
• Civilian Protection
• ICRC Operations
• AI in Warfare Regulation

Best for: Policy Maker, Legal Professional, General Interest

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by International Committee of the Red Cross.