UN Takes a Strong Stand Against Israel and Hamas for Human Rights Violations in Gaza Destruction

UN Takes a Strong Stand Against Israel and Hamas for Human Rights Violations in Gaza Destruction

February 27 – UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk on Wednesday accused Israel of violating human rights in its military operations in Gaza, stating, "The atrocities Israel has committed in Gaza have breached international law and set an unprecedented example of human rights violations."

He presented a new report to the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The report by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) strongly criticized Israel and also raised allegations against Hamas for violating international law.

Regarding Hamas, Turk said, "Hamas fired rockets towards Israel, which amounts to war crimes." In the attack on October 7, 2023, Hamas killed 1,200 Israeli citizens and took over 250 people hostage. In retaliation, Israel launched a massive assault on Gaza, killing more than 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials.

Turk further stated, "Israel's actions have caused massive destruction in Gaza—homes, hospitals, schools, everything has been destroyed. The restrictions imposed by Israel have created a humanitarian catastrophe."

He also mentioned that Hamas may have committed violations of humanitarian law in Gaza, particularly by co-locating military objectives and Palestinian civilians. He called for independent investigations into all human rights violations but expressed doubts about whether the Israeli judicial system would ensure full accountability according to international standards.

The report noted that Israel had not responded to the request for full access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to investigate violations by all parties.

Palestinian representatives accused Israel of committing war crimes and genocide against Palestinians and harshly criticized Israel for blocking aid to the Gaza Strip. Ibrahim Khraishi, the Palestinian ambassador to the UN in Geneva, stated, "Tents and model homes are being denied, and the flow of food and medicine has been halted."

Meanwhile, South African representative Frankye Bronwen Levy called the situation in Gaza an "incredible disaster" and condemned the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people.

The European Union supported the call for an independent investigation, condemned Hamas' attacks, and strongly criticized the escalation of tensions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israel.

Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, reiterated their calls for the end of the war and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.