Tort Liability in Warfare States' Wrongs and Civilians' Rights

In the turbulent arena of armed conflicts, Tort Liability in Warfare: States' Wrongs and Civilians' Rights emerges as a groundbreaking exploration of civilians' legal recourse against states for losses to life, bodily integrity, and property.
With a fresh perspective informed by corrective justice, the law of war, and substantive rule of law principles, Haim Abraham constructs a novel framework for understanding the moral and legal obligation of states to civilians in the aftermath of combat, and proposes that existing domestic tort law could and should address wrongful losses in this context. This book boldly confronts the prevailing academic and legal orthodoxy which dismisses the application of tort law in times of war, and offers a framework that empowers individuals to vindicate their rights and acts as a bulwark against abuse of public power.
By reviewing and analyzing the applicability of tort law to peacekeeping, urban warfare, counter-terrorism activities, and long-range warfare in Australia, Canada, England, Israel, and the United States, the book offers real world insights on how tort liability can serve as a mechanism for reparations and accountability.
Tort Liability in Warfare is a clarion call for a shift in legal paradigms, urging a path towards effective remedies for civilians caught in the crossfire of nations at war. It is an essential read for legal scholars, practitioners, and anyone invested in the pursuit of justice in the complex landscape of armed conflict.
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence.

Haim Abraham, Assistant Professor, UCL Faculty of Laws

Haim Abraham is an Assistant Professor in UCL Faculty of Laws, who specializes in the moral and legal liability of states. Dr Abraham holds a Doctor of Juridical Science degree from the University of Toronto, a Master of Law degree from the University of Cambridge, and a Bachelor of Law degree from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His work has been published in world-leading journals, professional and popular blogs, and has been cited by the Supreme Court of Israel. Before joining academia, Dr. Abraham was a Law Clerk at Israel's State Attorney Office, focusing on Israel's liability for losses inflicted by its defense forces.