HISTORICAL CONTINUITY, INTERESTS & ARGUMENTS: Do we adhere to the ethics of war any better than in the past?

The Arab-Israeli conflict is a modern phenomenon, which has its roots in the end of the 19th century. The conflict became an major international issue with the birth of the Israel state in 1948. The Arab-Israeli conflict has resulted in at least 5 major wars and a number of major conflicts. It has also been the source of two major Palestinian intifadas (uprisings).

Here is a map of where the conflict continues today - Gaza!

As we analyse the Vietnam War, we will be called on to make decisions about the ethics of war, or whether they exist at all. One thing for certain is that the question over ethical or just warfare is not relegated to events of the past. Today the Arab-Israeli conflict continues as Palestinians in Gaza continue to feel oppressed by the continued expansion of the Israeli state (especially in the West Bank). Israel claims that the governing body in Gaza, Hamas, are terrorists that use civilians as human shields to fight for their independence against the expansion of Israel... and today in 2014 the conflict still continues - over 50 years since the birth of the Israel state in 1948.

View the following clip where a commentator/observer of the recent Israeli bombing of a United Nations (UN) school in Gaza gives his STANDPOINT/PERSPECTIVE. The school in Gaza was understood by both sides of the conflict to be a UN safe haven for internally displaced Palestinians. The argument from the Israelis is that these schools, despite being UN safe havens in Gaza, have been found to house hidden terrorist rockets belonging to Hamas. The question then beckons, however, over the Israeli MOTIVE. It is well summed up by the BBC reporter below stating, 'even if there had been rockets hidden in this school, is this a justification for a direct hit? What you would be accusing [the Israelis] of ... is the direct targeting of a school where there are 3300 people."

The UN Secretary General has stated that over 1000 people have been killed in the conflict, mostly women and children. Now listen to commentators from both sides of the conflict and draw your own conclusions on the ethical grounds on which Israel is waging war in Gaza. Both sides are accusing each other of committing war crimes. Can you conclude that one side has a stronger argument? Or, considering past study of historical events and considering these contemporary episodes, is there such a thing as a 'war crime' in events such as these where chaos prevails and rational actors seemingly do irrational things? Post your comments and thoughts below.