ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the rules governing the actual conduct of hos tilities, once an armed conflict has broken out (ius in bello)} For most purposes, this body of law can be treated as separate from the rules govern ing the resort to the use of armed force (ius ad bellum).1 The basic reason is the consideration that, if it is not possible to fully prevent war (and history so far shows that it is indeed not possible), then at least warfare should be made subject to certain humanitarian restrictions in the interest of protect ing, for example, prisoners, the wounded and the civilian population, or by prohibiting certain kinds of weapons.
