Hors de combat, literally meaning "outside the fight," is a French term used in
diplomacy and
international law to refer to
combatants who are incapable of performing their ability to wage war. Examples include
fighter pilots or
aircrews parachuting from their disabled aircraft, as well as the sick, wounded, detained, or otherwise disabled. Combatants
hors de combat are normally granted special protections according to the
laws of war, sometimes including
prisoner-of-war status, and therefore officially became
non-combatants. Under the
1949 Geneva Conventions,
unlawful combatants hors de combat are granted the same privilege and to be treated with humanity while in captivity but unlike lawful combatants, they are subject to trial and punishment, which includes
execution.