Military occupation
Military occupation, also known as belligerent occupation or simply occupation, is the temporary military control by a ruling power over a sovereign territory that is outside of that ruling power's sovereign territory.[1][2][3][4] The controlled territory is then known as the occupied territory and the ruling power the occupant.[5] Occupation is distinguished from annexation and colonialism by its intended temporary duration.[4][6] While an occupant may set up a formal military government in the occupied territory to facilitate its administration, it is not a necessary precondition for occupation.[7]
This article is about territorial occupation. For the ranks and positions, see military rank.The rules of occupation are delineated in various international agreements, primarily the Hague Convention of 1907, the Geneva Conventions of 1949, as well as established state practice. The relevant international conventions, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Commentaries, and other treaties by military scholars provide guidelines on such topics as rights and duties of the occupying power, protection of civilians, treatment of prisoners of war, coordination of relief efforts, issuance of travel documents, property rights of the populace, handling of cultural and art objects, management of refugees, and other concerns which are very important both before and after the cessation of hostilities. A country that establishes an occupation and violates internationally agreed upon norms runs the risk of censure, criticism, or condemnation. In the current era, the practices of occupations have largely become a part of customary international law, and form a part of the laws of war.
Some examples of military occupation came into existence as an outcome of World War I and World War II:
A number of post-1945 occupations have lasted more than 20 years, such as those of Namibia by South Africa, of East Timor by Indonesia, of Northern Cyprus by Turkey and of Western Sahara by Morocco.[19] One of the world's longest ongoing occupations is Israel's occupation of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip (1967–present), both Palestinian territories, along with the Syrian Golan Heights.[20]
Other prolonged occupations that have been alleged include those of the Falkland Islands/Malvinas, claimed by Argentina, by the United Kingdom (1833–present), of Tibet by PR China (1950), and of Hawaii by the United States (1893). The War Report makes no determination as to whether belligerent occupation is occurring in these cases.[21]
Examples of occupation which took place in the second half of the 20th century include:
Examples of occupation in the 21st century include: