In Article 19 Convention IV- “Discontinuance of protection of civilian hospitals” the Geneva Convention states that protections of hospitals cease if “they are used to commit, outside their humanitarian duties, acts harmful to the enemy”, and “due warning has been given”.

The first obvious reason is a moral justification - if a side abuses the protections of international law and uses hospitals as military bases - then they lose some moral right to claim protection. But still, innocent civilians may be in hospitals even if they are military bases, and even if snipers shoot from, and rocket are fired from, that hospital. Innocent civilians and hospital staff shouldn’t die in war.

But also, practically, continuing this protection creates a clear incentive to use hospitals as military bases.…