Contributions of the Judeo-Christian Jurisprudence of War to International Humanitarian Law

The concept of humanitarian law is rooted in many religious cultures, chief among which is the Judeo-Christian. Therefore, this paper focuses on the contributions of the Judeo-Christian Jurisprudence of war to International Humanitarian Law, and discovers that contemporary International Humanitarian Law owes most of its development to the influence of that jurisprudence, as embodied in the Old and New Testaments; the Crusades of the Medieval Christian Era; and the Early Christian writings. Highlighting their compatibility and contributions to International Humanitarian Law may greatly promote and strengthen respect for the Law, particularly among adherents of the Judeo-Christian faith.