You missed the part where Isreal “extremely disproportionate retaliation” is “definition” of “war crimes” from “legitimate government” that is “recognized” by many countries.

Hostage or no hostage this is a war crime…

Here is the list:

For the purpose of this Statute, ‘war crimes’ means: Grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, namely, any of the following acts against persons or property protected under the provisions of the relevant Geneva Convention:

Wilful killing

Torture or inhuman treatment, including biological experiments;

Wilfully causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or health;

Extensive destruction and appropriation of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly;

Compelling a prisoner of war or other protected person to serve in the forces of a hostile Power;

Wilfully depriving a prisoner of war or other protected person of the rights of fair and regular trial;

Unlawful deportation or transfer or unlawful confinement;

Taking of hostages.

And ;

**projectiles and material and methods of warfare which are of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering **or which are inherently indiscriminate in violation of the international law of armed conflict, provided that such weapons, projectiles and material and methods of warfare are the subject of a comprehensive prohibition and are included in an annex to this Statute, by an amendment in accordance with the relevant provisions set forth in articles 121 and 123;

Committing outrages upon personal dignity, in particular humiliating and degrading treatment; Committing rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, as defined in article 7, paragraph 2 (f), enforced sterilization, or any other form of sexual violence also constituting a grave breach of the Geneva Conventions;

**Utilizing the presence of a civilian **or other protected person to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations;

**Intentionally directing attacks against buildings, **material, medical units and transport, and personnel using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions in conformity with international law;

**Intentionally using starvation of civilians **as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including wilfully impeding relief supplies as provided for under the Geneva Conventions;

Conscripting or enlisting children under the age of fifteen years into the national armed forces or using them to participate actively in hostilities.