The survey was commissioned by the ICRC to mark today's 60th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, which protect persons not, or no longer, taking part in hostilities. The Geneva Conventions are the cornerstone of international humanitarian law, also known as the law of armed conflict. All States around the globe – including Israel – are party to the Geneva Conventions.

Five hundred respondents participated in the survey conducted by the Geocartography Knowledge Group. The ICRC also conducted similar opinion surveys in eight other countries affected by armed conflict or other violence to gauge popular views of some of the core principles of international humanitarian law.

"Many Israelis seem to think that civilian casualties are unavoidable although, when presented with specific scenarios, a majority believe that there are limits to what is permitted in war," said Pierre Wettach, the ICRC's head of delegation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Just over half of the respondents (52.6%) think that depriving civilians of medicine, food or water is strictly prohibited. More than a third (36.3%) say that attacks on medical, religious or educational institutions are strictly prohibited. Opinions are divided on whether it is permissible to prevent contact between relatives separated by conflict as a means of weakening an enemy: 29.8% believe it is allowed, 28.1% believe it is strictly prohibited and 36.3% believe it is prohibited but that sometimes there is no choice.

Asked why fighters would attack or otherwise harm civilians even though it is prohibited to do so, almost half the respondents (49.1%) said that fighters have to protect their own lives and the lives of their fellow fighters. In the same vein, over a quarter of the respondents (28.6%) think that, in a combat situation, a fighter should shoot at a person approaching him, even if he is uncertain whether that person is an unarmed civilian or an enemy fighter.

Respondents who think certain actions are strictly prohibited in times of war were asked to explain why. Just over half said that the actions are against human rights, and 32% that they are against their personal values and principles. Only 7% cited the Geneva Conventions as the reason why certain actions are prohibited.

The survey also shows that while eight in ten Israelis (82.1%) are aware of the Geneva Conventions, almost half (46.2%) believe that the treaties make no difference in terms of preventing wars from getting worse.

"The gap between the awareness of the rules and their perceived impact is perhaps an indication that people want to see better respect for and implementation of the law," said Mr Wettach. "We will continue our efforts to promote understanding of and compliance with instruments of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, but it is ultimately the responsibility of political authorities and armed forces and groups to uphold the law and to ensure that even wars have limits."