Which two of the following acts are prohibited acts of perfidy? (Good Faith and Perfidy, pg 2 of 11)
Using the enemy’s weapons during combat
Displaying a white flag of truce while attacking the enemy
Fighting in the enemy’s uniform
Using the enemy uniforms to evade capture
The correct answer and explanation is :
The two acts prohibited as perfidy in the context of the laws of armed conflict are:
- Displaying a white flag of truce while attacking the enemy
- Fighting in the enemy’s uniform
Explanation:
Perfidy is defined under international humanitarian law (IHL) as acts that deceive the enemy into believing that one is complying with the laws of war while actually intending to harm them. The goal of perfidy is to exploit the trust or belief that the enemy holds in certain conventions, such as those designed to protect combatants, non-combatants, or prisoners of war.
1. Displaying a white flag of truce while attacking the enemy:
A white flag of truce is a symbol of intent to negotiate, request a ceasefire, or surrender. Its purpose is to signal peaceful intentions or the willingness to discuss terms, such as medical assistance or the release of prisoners. When a party displays this flag but continues to attack or uses it to deceive the enemy, it constitutes an act of perfidy. This deceitful tactic exploits the enemy’s expectation of good faith and violates the fundamental principle of distinction under IHL, which requires combatants to distinguish themselves from civilians and act honorably during conflict.
2. Fighting in the enemy’s uniform:
Wearing the enemy’s uniform to engage in combat is also considered perfidious. It creates an illusion of being a legitimate combatant, which can mislead the enemy into treating the combatant according to the laws of war (e.g., not attacking them immediately if they are mistaken for one of their own troops). This act puts the other side at a disadvantage and constitutes an unlawful trick, as the purpose of wearing the enemy’s uniform is to deceive them and gain an unfair advantage.
In contrast, using the enemy’s weapons during combat and using enemy uniforms to evade capture are not considered perfidy but may still be prohibited for other reasons (e.g., based on specific military regulations or rules of engagement). However, these actions don’t inherently involve deceit intended to manipulate the enemy’s perception of the conflict.