This report analyzes breach incidents that occurred over a six-month period from November 2023 to April 2024. The UN office believes that many incidents of killing civilians and violations of international law can be classified as war crimes.
The report notes that the International Court of Justice has warned Israel of its responsibility in multiple mandates: to prevent and punish the commission of genocide and prohibited conduct.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stressed that Israel must immediately fulfill these responsibilities, gather information and evidence related to such cases and keep them safe.
According to him, this is important in view of the ongoing military action in northern Gaza and legislation affecting the functioning of the United Nations Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Emphasis on accountability
The High Commissioner for Human Rights has noted that countries have a responsibility to prevent atrocity crimes. In this vein, he urged support for the effectiveness of international law and accountability processes and mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court.
The report shows that civilians in Gaza have suffered the consequences of Israeli attacks, subsequent failure of the Israeli government to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid, repeated mass displacement and destruction of infrastructure.
According to the Human Rights Office, Israeli military operations have resulted in unprecedented levels of casualties, including starvation and disease.
Palestinian armed groups have adopted similar fighting methods that have also harmed civilians.
The barbaric attack of October 7
The report states that on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups committed massive violations of international law. Israeli and foreign civilians were attacked, killed, civilians were mistreated, sexually assaulted and many were taken hostage.
These acts can be classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
According to the report, Hamas and other armed groups have celebrated these attacks since October 7, which is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable.
Volker Turk, High Commissioner for Human Rights, noted that the laws of war have been in place for 160 years to prevent human suffering during armed conflict.
“But it is their callous indifference that is causing the extreme human suffering we see today.”
Suffering of women and children
It has been said that the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is busy verifying the personal information of victims of attacks, bombings and war in Gaza. According to the information received so far, about 70 percent of the victims are women and children.
Reports express outrage that these attacks are still continuing and civilians are being killed among the local population, but there also seems to be indifference to their deaths and the methods of warfare adopted for them.
The children who died were divided into three age groups: 5 to 9 years, 10 to 14 years and newborn to 4 years. According to the available data, 70 percent of the deaths occurred in residential buildings or similar homes, of which 44 percent were children and 26 percent were women.
According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, the Israeli military has used weapons that have caused extensive damage in densely populated areas. There is also talk of using white phosphorus ammunition.
However, in some cases, rockets fired by Palestinian armed groups have also landed in residential areas, causing loss of life and property. The report raised concerns about planned attacks on hospitals, journalists and forced displacement of the population from one place to another.