How international law applies to war, and why Hamas and Israel are both alleged to have broken it

By JILL LAWLESS
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — The United Nations says it is collecting evidence of war crimes by both sides in the Israel-Hamas war, which began with the militant group’s brutal Oct. 7 cross-border attack and was followed by Israel’s relentless bombardment and a siege of Gaza. At least 1,400 Israelis and more than 9,200 people in Gaza have been killed, and thousands of others have been injured. Most of the injured and dead are civilians, including many women and children. Enforcing the law amid the fog of war is difficult. Holding perpetrators to account once conflicts are over has often proved elusive.