IHL Centre

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12 March 2026

An Abdication of Legal and Historical Responsibility

There can be little doubt that the US and Israeli attacks on Iran contravene the prohibition on the use of force while Iran’s retaliation goes beyond what would be permissible under the right to self-defence. While the German government has criticised Iran’s violent crackdown on the demonstrations and was quick to denounce its retaliatory attacks across the region, no such condemnation has been forthcoming with respect to the US and Israel. This approach to international law is both hypocritical and an abdication of historical responsibility. It is also strategically short-sighted and dangerous.

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