United Nations: The Israeli military appears to be committing several war crimes and doing little to protect civilians in its genocidal war targeting Palestinians in Gaza.
At a special meeting of the US Human Rights Council in Geneva, the head of the US Commission of Inquiry said the scale of Palestinian civilian casualties would be “overwhelming”. In his report, former South African judge Navi Pillay said the use of weapons of mass destruction in densely populated areas “constitutes a deliberate and direct attack on civilians” and should be prosecuted.
The US report, citing six attacks that caused casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, said Israeli forces “consistently violated” the principles of distinction, equality and precaution. In five attacks, there was no warning, said the report, which clearly establishes the duty of international humanitarian law to prioritize the protection of civilians.
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “The demand for a choice of methods and methods of war seems to avoid or minimize civilian casualties in Israel’s bombing campaign.”
The report, which the UN human rights watchdog OHCHR described as “characteristic” of Israel’s tactics in the more than eight-month war, is believed to have used 2,000 kilograms (920kg) of bombs. in residences, schools, refugee camps and markets.
The 12-foot (3.4-meter) weapon was deployed between October 9 and December 2, 2023, killing 218 people, the OHCHR said, adding that the actual death toll could be higher.
The report states that the Israel Defense Forces have “struck more than 5,000 targets in real-time to eliminate the threat” since the Air Force began bombing Gaza on November 11, 2023. So far, the Gaza health authorities have documented 11,078 Palestinians killed, another 2,700 missing and some 27,490 were injured.
The authors of the report described the attack in the Ash Shuja neighborhood of Gaza City, which destroyed 15 buildings located about 130 meters apart. The OHCHR reported that the extent of the damage to buildings and craters indicates that about nine 2,000-pound GBU-31 bombs have been used, and that at least 60 people died.
“Since October 7, Israel’s methods and methods of containing the war in Gaza, including the widespread use of explosive weapons with wide regional effects in densely populated areas, have failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants,” said the OHCHR report. has been introduced.
Civilian life and infrastructure are protected under International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This law establishes a clear obligation for parties to an armed conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians. “
Meanwhile, people in Gaza are being forced to seek refuge amid “unimaginable” destruction, said Ajit Sunghai, head of the OHCHR office in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Speaking to reporters via video link from Amman after returning from an assessment mission in many parts of the region, Sunghai said Gazans are “barely surviving” after being repeatedly displaced by the IDF’s persecution and evacuation orders.
“The sound of bombs, guns, drones is constant,” he said. “The sound of war continues day and night. In my 22 years at the United Nations, in many conflicts and post-conflict situations, I have seen such challenges for the United Nations and human rights and humanitarian aid partners to work. The devastation is unimaginable. “
OHCHR officials said Khan Isuni’s image had now “changed”. People I know have told me how they moved 10 times… they barely survived.”
The report focuses on Israel, but also notes that Palestinian armed groups continue to fire on Israel.
