Gaza: New UN report warns of possible atrocities
The report details the horrifying reality faced by both the people of Israel and Gaza since October 7, 2023, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasizing the need for Israel to fully comply and immediately to its obligations under international law and the rules of war.
“It is essential that there be due consideration of allegations of serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial authorities, and that all information and Relevant evidence is collected and preserved.
The UN High Commissioner said this is even more important and urgent, given the totality of the actions covered in the report and taking into account most recent events, including ongoing activities. Israel’s presence in northern Gaza and the passage of legislation affecting the operations of the United Nations agency. for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.
There could be genocide, crimes against humanity
The detailed analysis of the violations covers the six-month period from November 2023 to April 2024 and looks extensively at the killing of civilians and violations of international law that in many cases could constitute into a war crime.
According to the report, if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against civilians, outside of State or institutional policy, these violations could constitute crimes against species. People.
The report warns that if such violations are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, they may also constitute genocide. strain.
“Female International Court of Justice (ICJ), in a series of orders on interim measures, emphasized Israel’s international obligations to prevent, protect and punish acts of genocide and related prohibited acts. according to the report.
Crime by armed groups
According to the report, Palestinian armed groups have also conducted hostilities in ways that may have contributed to harm to civilians.
The report said that on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants committed serious violations of international law on a large scale, including attacks against Israeli and foreign civilians, killing and mistreatment of civilians, sexual violence, destruction of civilian objects, and appropriation of civilian items. hostage.
According to the report, these actions may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, which noted that after October 7, Hamas and other armed groups organized attacks and violation, which is “deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable.”
Nations must stop the brutality
Mr. Türk reiterated the obligation of States to act to prevent atrocity crimes, calling on them to support the functioning of accountability mechanisms, including accountability mechanisms. International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the current conflict.
The report also points to repeated statements by Israeli officials that ending the conflict depends on the total destruction of Gaza and the exodus of Palestinians.
Additionally, it documents efforts to rationalize discrimination, hostility, and violence against and even eliminate Palestinians.
Most deaths are in children
The report shows how civilians have borne the brunt of the attacks, including the initial “full siege” of Gaza by Israeli forces, as well as the Israeli government’s continued failure to allowing, facilitating and ensuring access to humanitarian aid, destruction of facilities. civilian infrastructure and repeated mass displacements.
The report said this behavior by Israeli forces caused unprecedented levels of killing, death, injury, starvation, illness and disease.
United Nations human rights office, OHCHRverified the personal information of those killed in Gaza by strikes, shelling and other acts of hostilities, finding nearly 70% were children and women, suggesting possible violations. system of basic principles of international humanitarian law, including discrimination. and proportionality.
The report states that the continuation of these attacks, which kill evenly across the entire population, “demonstrates a blatant indifference to civilian deaths and the impact of the means and methods of warfare.” paintings have been selected.
The most confirmed deaths are children.
