the heart of the law of war is a series of prohibitions of violence against and mistreatment of non-combatants. Under IHL, certain non-combatants are classified as protected persons, who are to be protected under laws applicable to international armed conflict at all times.

One of the key principles of the law of war (also known as international humanitarian law, or IHL), is that: "Non-combatants are to be spared from various forms of harm;