The practical question is this: "Is it improper to execute regular citizens in war?"
An issue of developing significance
This inquiry has gotten more significant during the most recent 100 years on the grounds that
a century prior the vast majority slaughtered in wars were experts.
* At the start of the 20th century just 10%-15% of the individuals who kicked the bucket in
war were regular citizens.
* In World War 2 over half of the individuals who were killed were regular citizens.
* By the century's end more than 75% of those slaughtered in war were regular folks.
The general rule is that
Only those who are attacking you are valid targets of attack, according to the general law.
Attacking those who are not battling will be a violation of their human rights.
Who is a combatant and who isn't?
While everyone agrees that only combatants are valid targets, the definition of what defines a
combatant is less simple.
Definitely combatants
* members of armed forces
* members of guerrilla forces (even though they aren't in uniform)
* anybody who takes up arms in the war for reasons other than self-defense
All residents of neutral countries * the elderly and ill * children are categorically noncombatants.
Are all civilians a legitimate target?
Some people say honestly "no" to the question "Is it immoral to kill civilians in war?"
According to them, all citizens of the enemy nation should be considered combatants.
They claim that since modern wars are waged with the resources of an entire nation, it is
pointless to differentiate between people who contribute directly to the war effort and those
who do not. Every person is a combatant, and the entire country is at war.
A counter argument was that if the whole world supported the war effort, then every citizen
was responsible for the actions of the country's armed forces and could be considered a
combatant.
Non-combatant immunity can seem to be merely a functional law, but Mc Keogh (2002: 4)
emphasizes that it is viewed as “a principle with a moral foundation” since killing noncombatants is considered “worse” than killing combatants.
Directing attacks on civilians is prohibited at all times; in fact, attacking civilians deliberately
while knowing of their civilian status is a war crime.