The UN Human Rights Office released a report on Wednesday alleging that Israel may have committed various violations of international humanitarian law and potential war crimes during its Gaza Strip campaign. This report reviews six Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) attacks that possibly breached international law, resulting in significant civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian property. The IDF is reported to have used different types of bombs in densely populated areas, including residential buildings, a school, refugee camps, and a market.
According to the report, Israel’s extensive use of high-explosive weapons in such areas likely constitutes a prohibited indiscriminate attack under international law. The UN claims that the IDF did not issue warnings prior to five of the six attacks examined, which violates the principle of precaution in attacks. Further, the use of wide-area effect weapons in densely populated regions breached the principle of distinction, which requires distinguishing between combatants and civilians. Additionally, the principle of proportionality seems to have been frequently ignored, as the civilian harm often outweighed the anticipated military advantage.
Data from the Gaza Ministry of Health reveals that as of June 13, 2024, 37,232 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, and over 85,000 injured. The report notes that the majority of those killed were civilians, including a significant number of women and children.
In response to the report, Israel issued a statement asserting that the report is biased, unsound in its methodology, and legally incorrect. Israel argues that the UN rights office lacks access to the military information that justifies the attacks and that the casualty numbers are derived from Hamas, ignoring operational considerations. The response emphasized that the IDF reviews targets carefully and selects appropriate munitions based on a thorough assessment of the target’s structural and geographical features and potential effects on civilians and infrastructure in the vicinity.
The IDF maintains that its operations aim to neutralize threats in real time and that Hamas intentionally places civilians in danger as a strategy. However, an IDF official’s statement directed at Hamas and Gazan civilians that referenced severe punitive measures was cited in the UN’s report, adding to concerns about the proportionality and humanitarian impact.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, remarked on the ongoing need for accountability: “While the IDF asserts it has initiated factual assessments of most of the incidents examined in the report, it is now eight months since the first of these extremely serious incidents occurred. Yet still there is no clarity as to what happened or steps toward accountability.” The report urges Israel to conduct independent and transparent investigations into these alleged violations and to cooperate with the International Criminal Court to ensure justice for the victims.