Israel Destruction of Buildings on Gaza Border Tantamount to 'War Crime,' Says UN Human Rights Chief
15:38 08.02.2024 (Updated: 17:05 08.02.2024)
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GENEVA (Sputnik) - Israel's destruction of buildings in the Gaza Strip along the border is a "war crime," according to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
"Extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, amounts to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and a war crime," Turk said on Thursday, commenting on the widespread destruction caused by the Israeli military of civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 27,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.
