Food weaponisation has gained momentum and become more effective as the weakening of the international order has diminished global food security and increased the vulnerability of many populations. The difficulty of proving specific intent to cause hunger and famine, and international bodies’ lack of enforcement mechanisms even if it is proven, leave considerable room for military actors leveraging food deprivation to manoeuvre. The dire hunger situation in Gaza – for which Israel has been criticised but not, so far, held accountable – is a case in point. A logical focal point for reorienting and reasserting international law with respect to the use of hunger as a weapon would be the principle of distinction, a fundamental tenet of humanitarian law that requires parties to armed conflict to distinguish combatants from civilians, and to avoid harming the latter.
Hunger as a Weapon, Present and Past
Tognocchi, Martino
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
2025-01-01
Abstract
Food weaponisation has gained momentum and become more effective as the weakening of the international order has diminished global food security and increased the vulnerability of many populations. The difficulty of proving specific intent to cause hunger and famine, and international bodies’ lack of enforcement mechanisms even if it is proven, leave considerable room for military actors leveraging food deprivation to manoeuvre. The dire hunger situation in Gaza – for which Israel has been criticised but not, so far, held accountable – is a case in point. A logical focal point for reorienting and reasserting international law with respect to the use of hunger as a weapon would be the principle of distinction, a fundamental tenet of humanitarian law that requires parties to armed conflict to distinguish combatants from civilians, and to avoid harming the latter.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
