JURIST - Paper Chase: Israeli killing of Hamas leader condemned as contrary to international law

European leaders Monday quickly condemned Israel's predawn targeted killing of Hamas spiritual leader Ahmed Yassin in Gaza (see a BBC profile) as against international law. In London, a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said:

We have repeatedly made clear our opposition to Israel's use of targeted killings and assassinations. We recognise Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism, but equally any steps should be within international law and should be neither disproportionate nor excessive.

The Guardian has more. In Paris, a Foreign Ministry spokeman said "France condemns the action taken against Sheikh Yassin, just as it has always condemned the principle of any extra-judicial execution as contrary to international law." AFP has more. The BBC offers this 2001 backgrounder on Israel's policy of targeted killings. Amnesty International condemned what it called Israel's policy of "state assassinations" in this extensive report, emphasizing "It is a basic rule of customary international law that civilians and civilian objects must never be made the target of an attack. This rule applies in all circumstances including in the midst of full-scale armed conflict. Due to its customary nature it is binding on all parties." In Israel, Daniel Statman of Haifa University offers a philosophical defense of targeted killing [PDF].

UPDATE: Amnesty International has condemned the assassination of Yassin in a press release, saying:

Once again Israel has chosen to violate international law instead of using alternative lawful means. Sheikh Yassin could have been arrested and prosecuted. The Israeli army has arrested tens of thousands of Palestinians in frequent raids in refugee camps, towns and villages throughout the Gaza Strip and West Bank in the past two years.

Read the full AI release here.

UPDATE-2: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also condemned the killing of Yassin was against international law, telling reporters in New York "Such actions are not only contrary to international law, but they do not do anything to help the search for a peaceful solution." Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon defended the assassination in the face of objections from the head of Shin Bet, the Israeli security service, according to a late story in the Jerusalem Post.