Spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Jeremy Laurence, expressed concerns about possible violations of the rules of proportionality, distinction and precaution by Israeli forces during Saturday’s raid against the Nuseirat refugee camp.
Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed during the operation.
Also read: Noovo Info special report | Israel – Hamas War
Mr. Laurence argued that Palestinian armed groups holding hostages in densely populated areas expose the lives of nearby civilians and hostages to “additional risks” from hostilities.
“All these actions by both parties could constitute war crimes,” he said during a press briefing in Geneva.
“It was catastrophic, the way it was carried out, in that civilians – again – were caught in the middle of it all,” Mr Laurence added.
Referring to the “ordeal” faced by the hostages and their families, he said: “The fact that four hostages are now free is clearly very good news. These hostages should never have been taken in the first place. This is a violation of international humanitarian law. They must be released. All. Quickly.”
Israel launched its war against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killing some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and kidnapping about 250 others.
More than 36,730 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli response, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.
Palestinians also face widespread famine, because the war has largely interrupted the supply of food, medicine and other supplies.
UN agencies say more than a million people in Gaza could experience the highest level of famine by mid-July.
