A UN independent committee stated on Tuesday that there is “already clear evidence that war crimes may have been committed” in the recent outbreak of war between Israel and Gaza. The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory emphasizes that all parties who have violated international law “must be held accountable for their crimes.”
From the onset of conflict on October 7, more than 1,200 Israelis have died as a result of rocket attacks since Hamas militants entered Israeli territory and began firing rockets from Gaza. The commission condemned the reports of armed groups from Gaza gunning down hundreds of unarmed civilians. The estimation that Hamas has taken over 100 Israeli citizens hostage is seen as a direct violation of international law.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk stated, “International humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks.”
In response to the attacks, Israel declared a state of war on Sunday and soon after ordered a “complete siege on Gaza.” The commission expressed concern on Tuesday over the announcement of the siege on Gaza, particularly the “withholding of water, food, electricity, and fuel” due to the potential cost to civilian lives. The commission determined that this siege warrants “collective punishment.” On Wednesday, Gaza officials told CNN that the region’s sole power station ran out of fuel, rendering Gaza electricity-less.
The commission and Türk have urged both Israeli and Palestinian forces to strictly adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law, expressing their dedication to investigating the alleged war crimes and other international law violations by all parties involved. They note that the only viable strategy for peace lies in addressing the root causes of the conflict. For more details, consider the full report on The Jurist.