the 1977 additional protocol 1 to the geneva conventions (ap-1) finally prohibits all intentional attacks on "the civilian population and civilian objects."[5][note 2] it also prohibits and defines "indiscriminate attacks" as "incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated."[note 3] this rule is referred to by scholars as the principle of proportionality.[6][7] until well after world war ii ended in 1945, the norm of reciprocity provided a justification for conduct in armed conflict.[8] in 1993, the united nations security council adopted a report from the secretary-general and a commission of experts which concluded that the geneva conventions had passed into the body of customary international humanitarian law, thus making them binding on non-signatories to the conventions whenever they engage in armed conflicts.[9] this broader application underscores the importance of the fourth geneva convention in ongoing conflicts where allegations of violations frequently surface, emphasising its role in international efforts to ensure the protection of civilians, as illustrated by the ongoing debates and legal interpretations in modern conflicts.[10]
Hungary