By Gabriel Ameh
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has urged the United States and Israel to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law, especially the Geneva Conventions, in their ongoing military actions involving Iran.
He emphasised that even in times of armed conflict, there are legally binding rules designed to protect those who are not directly participating in hostilities. Adeyanju specifically called for the full safeguarding of children, hospitals, civilians, and other vulnerable populations, underscoring that these groups must never be targeted or subjected to indiscriminate violence.
The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, setting out obligations for all parties in armed conflicts to distinguish between combatants and civilians, and to limit suffering by protecting those who are not taking part in fighting.
These rules prohibit direct attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and markets; they require all feasible precautions to avoid or minimise civilian harm; and they mandate humane treatment for all persons in the power of a party to the conflict.
Adeyanju’s appeal comes amid reports of escalating tensions and military strikes involving U.S. and Israeli forces against Iranian targets, which have prompted widespread international concern over rising civilian casualties and potential breaches of international law. At the United Nations, officials and diplomats have reiterated that all parties must respect the limits on the use of force established by the UN Charter and humanitarian law, to prevent further loss of innocent life and to protect the fundamental rights of non-combatants.
By highlighting these legal and moral obligations, Adeyanju called on global powers engaged in or supporting military operations to remember the human cost of war, to prioritise the safety of vulnerable communities, and to seek peaceful, diplomatic avenues to resolve disputes consistent with the protections enshrined in international treaties and customary law.
