Josef Alkatout is admitted to the bars of New York and Geneva, and has been part of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in different locations. Alkatout earned his degrees in Law and International Relations in Geneva and Helsinki. He holds a Doctorate from Göttingen University, and an LL.M. from Columbia Law School where he earned recognition as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar for excellent academic performance. Alkatout is a fellow at Harvard University as well as a lecturer and legal advisor to several public and private entities.

In asymmetric armed conflicts military agents carry out targeted killings against civilians taking "a direct part in the hostilities". This book defines such participation and revisits the applicable legal framework. Treaty requirements for the recognition of non-state actors are addressed and the legal ethics of a strict status-based approach (combatants/civilians) is opined on. The research uses numerous graphs for illustration purposes and closes with a fictional case study.

A. Introduction

B. International and Non-international Armed Conflicts

C. Statuses during Armed Conflict

D. Principle of Distinction

E. (No) Protection from Military Attack during Armed Conflict

F. Immediate Participation in Hostilities

G. Practice of Targeted Killings in Light of other IHL Principles

H. Legality of Targeted Killings in Armed Conflict

I. Fictional Case Study

J. Conclusions

References and Bibliography

Domestic Legislation, Regulation and Communication

Table of cases

Subject Index

In today's asymmetric armed conflicts, military agents carry out targeted killings against civilians that "take a direct part in the hostilities". This book defines such participation for the purposes of international humanitarian, criminal and human rights law. Additionally, the general framework of the law of war is revisited, in particular under the currently frequent scenario of non-international armed conflicts. Treaty requirements for the recognition of non-state actors (degree of collectivity) are addressed and the legal ethics of a strict status-based approach in international law (combatants/civilians) is opined on. The study at hand analyzes the repertory of applicable legal texts and their authentic versions in the different official languages. It discloses existing incoherencies and gives an overview of their implementation into the national legislation of several countries. The research closes with a fictional case study. Graphs and figures are used for illustration purposes throughout the document.