Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

UN Rights Chief: Israeli Occupation Attacks On Deir El Balah May Amount To War Crimes


(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) GENEVA, July 22 (KUNA) -- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned on Tuesday that the latest Israeli occupation military operations in southwestern Deir El Balah, in the Gaza Strip, may amount to war crimes - and, under certain circumstances, to crimes against humanity.
"I remind Israel that permanently displacing people living under its occupation would amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime - and in some cases, may also constitute a crime against humanity," Turk said in a press release issued from Geneva.
"The latest Israeli displacement orders, followed by intensive attacks on southwestern Deir El Balah, have added more misery to the suffering of hungry Palestinians. It seemed the nightmare could not possibly get worse - and yet it does," he said.
"These Israeli airstrikes and ground operations will invariably lead to further civilian deaths and the destruction of civilian infrastructure," he added. "Given the concentration of civilians in the area, and the means and methods of warfare employed by Israel so far, the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high."
Turk noted that "the area targeted by these attacks is also home to several humanitarian organizations, including clinics, other medical facilities, shelters, a community kitchen, guesthouses, warehouses, and other critical infrastructure.
"Homes have already been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee the area once again. Their only choice is to move to the ever-shrinking zones of Gaza, where hundreds of thousands are being forced to gather - rendering any attempt to deliver humanitarian assistance increasingly difficult. Even these areas are not safe," he stressed.
"Israel, as the occupying power, must ensure that food, medical, and other essential supplies are provided for the population. It must immediately and unconditionally allow humanitarian aid to enter and be distributed to all those in need.
"And instead of launching round upon round of new military attacks, there must be an immediate end to the killings, destruction, and widespread violations of international law," Turk pinted out, concluding that "more and more countries are joining the calls to shake us out of this nightmare". (end)
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