Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and International Humanitarian Law: A Study of Legal and Ethical Challenges in the Cases of Gaza and Lebanon

This study investigates the complex legal and ethical challenges posed by the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in contemporary armed conflicts, with a specific focus on the application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). The research first outlines the definitional and historical framework of UAVs and their various classifications. It then analyzes the compatibility of their deployment with the core principles of IHL: distinction, proportionality, military necessity, and humanity. To provide a practical analysis, the paper examines the case studies of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, documenting how these aircraft have been used for targeted killings, violations of sovereignty, and attacks resulting in disproportionate civilian casualties and infrastructural damage. These actions are presented as systematic breaches of established IHL principles. The study concludes that a significant regulatory vacuum and a near-complete lack of international accountability have facilitated these violations with impunity. Therefore, the paper underscores the urgent need to develop a specialized international legal framework to govern the use of UAVs, one that establishes clear mechanisms for transparency and accountability to protect civilians and uphold the core tenets of IHL in the face of advancing military technology.