France
Practice Relating to Rule 47. Attacks against Persons Hors de Combat
France’s LOAC Summary Note (1992) states: “It is prohibited to kill or injure an adversary who … is
hors de combat.”
France’s LOAC Teaching Note (2000) provides: “It is prohibited to attack … an adversary … who is
hors de combat.”
France’s LOAC Manual (2001) states: “A person who is recognized or who, in the circumstances, should be recognized to be
hors de combat shall not be made the object of attack.”
France’s Penal Code (1992), as amended in 2010, states in its section on war crimes common to both international and non-international armed conflicts:
Causing serious injury to the physical integrity of a combatant from the adverse party who, having laid down his arms or having no longer means of defence, has surrendered, is punishable by 20 years’ imprisonment.