text: Non-Hostile Relations Between Belligerents
  INVIOLABILITY OF PARLEMENTAIRE
  7-35. Parlementaires have a right of inviolability in the execution of their functions. All members of the
  parlementaire’s party have the same right to inviolability as the parlementaire (HR art. 32).
  LOSS OF INVIOLABILITY OF PARLEMENTAIRE
  7-36. Parlementaires lose their right of inviolability if it is established in a clear and uncontestable manner
  that they took advantage of the privileges associated with the position to provoke or commit an act of
  treachery (HR art. 23(f), 34). That includes engaging in sabotage or the secret gathering of information about
  the adversary while under the adversary’s protection. Parlementaires or any member of their party abusing
  their privileged position may be detained temporarily (HR art. 33).
  7-37. Parlementaires do not take advantage of their privileged position if they report what they observed in
  plain sight during their mission. As paragraph 7-29 demonstrates, the receiving command may take necessary
  steps to prevent the parlementaire and his or her party from taking advantage of their mission to obtain
  information, including by using blindfolds.
  OTHER REASONS FOR DETENTION OF A PARLEMENTAIRE
  7-38. In addition to a right of detention for abuse of his privileged position, a parlementaire may be detained
  for other imperative security reasons, such as in case the parlementaire or his or her party saw anything, or
  otherwise obtained knowledge the receiving commander regards as detrimental to his force, or if their
  departure might reveal information as to the movement of friendly force units (see DOD Law of War Manual,
  12.5.4.3).
  7-39. A parlementaire should be detained only for as long as circumstances imperatively require. Information
  regarding the parlementaire’s detention, as well as any other action against the parlementaire, or any member
  of the parlementaire’s party, should be sent to his or her commander.
  NEUTRAL AREAS FOR NEGOTIATION
  7-40. The parties to the conflict may agree to the establishment of a neutral zone or area as a site for
  negotiations if prolonged negotiations are anticipated.
  SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WHITE FLAG
  7-41. A white flag, when used by military forces, indicates a desire to communicate with the enemy. The
  hoisting of a white flag has no other legal meaning in LOAC.
  7-42. Forces displaying a flag of truce must show clearly that they intend to engage in non-hostile relations.
  The forces bear the burden of communicating their intent to the opposing forces. To indicate that the hoisting
  of the white flag is authorized by its commander, the force hoisting it should cease fire completely (see DOD
  Law of War Manual, 12.4.2).
  7-43. A party is not required to cease fire or other military operations when a white flag is raised by the other
  side. Fire must not be directed intentionally on individuals carrying the white flag or on persons near them
  unless there is a clear manifestation of hostile intent by those persons. It is essential to determine with
  reasonable certainty that the flag is shown by actual authority of the enemy commander before basing
  important actions upon that assumption. For example, the force should not assume that all enemy forces in
  the locality intend to surrender and expose themselves to hostile fire based on the enemy’s display of the
  white flag.
  7-44. Marines and Soldiers should be instructed to report promptly the display of the white flag through their
  chain of command so that the commander may determine if the opposing force seeks to engage in non-hostile
  relations. The burden is on the party displaying the white flag to establish such intention to its adversary and
  should consider sending a parlementaire to communicate the commander’s intent. If the force displaying the
  white flag ceases fire and other hostile acts, Marines and Soldiers should seek guidance from their