Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid for the Gaza Strip may amount to a “war crime”, the United Nations human rights chief says.
The appraisal on Tuesday followed the release of a UN-backed report that said famine is likely by May in the besieged Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people unless fighting in the more than five-month war between Israel and Hamas is brought to an end and aid shipments swiftly increased.
“The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said.
His spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, told reporters in Geneva that the final determination of whether “starvation is being used as a weapon of war” would be determined by a court of law.
“The suffering of the people of Gaza is unconscionable,” he said.
While aid agencies blame Israel for the crisis due to its blockade of Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government says it is facilitating supplies. Israel claims the UN and relief groups are at fault for the quantity and pace of aid deliveries.
“Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population commensurate with their needs and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations to deliver that assistance,” Turk said in a statement delivered by his spokesperson.
@Pr0gressiveEliGreen3mos3MO
Benjamin Netanyahu won't allow food into Gaza. Is there anything UN can do? The EU criticized Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday.
@LazyCraneDemocrat3mos3MO
I have loved Israel even before my first visit at 12 yrs old. I donated babysitting $ for trees for Israel. But i don’t see how it cannot be a war crime to deny 2 million confined ppl access to essential food, medical supplies & to pulverize every means of sustaining life.
@9KZ4Z5B3mos3MO
People aren't paying enough attention to this issue, if we take action we can prevent this mass genocide from continuing
@Morgan-V3mos3MO
I am not as knowledgable about Israel vs. Palestine, but my opinion is that both sides are inflicting damage on each other and causing more civilian casualties than there should be. I also believe the the United States should not be assisting either country within this war, because we do not know what is going to happen to the repercussions in the future of showing support to Israel over Palestine.
@9KZ4QFB3mos3MO
I have family from Israel and my family has bee oppressed for too long like WW2
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