UN humanitarian office says Israeli actions in Gaza bears 'hallmarks of atrocity crimes'
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns Israeli actions in the besieged Gaza Strip, including strikes on populated civilian areas, “bear the hallmarks” of atrocities.
Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the OCHA made remarks during a briefing in the Swiss city of Geneva on Friday.
“There is a callous disregard for human life and dignity. The acts of war that we see bear the hallmarks of atrocity crimes.”
The spokesperson further warns situation now 'worse' than before ceasefire, with mounting civilian deaths, mass displacement, and aid completely blocked.
He noted Humanitarian aid access has been cut off entirely by Israel.
“We are back to where we were before – just this time it’s worse because of the complete shutdown of entry of supplies."
“Hospitals are once again battlegrounds. Patients killed in their beds. Ambulances shot at and first responders killed. Hundreds of children and other civilians have been killed in Israeli air strikes.”
More than 142,000 people have been displaced in recent days, many for the second or third time. "With no safe place to go to and no means to survive," Laerke said, adding that displacement orders now cover 18% of Gaza’s territory and "it is growing by the day."
"Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people. International law is clear … yet the alerts that we issue in report after report reveal an utter lack of respect for the most basic principles of humanity.”
The Israeli army launched a renewed aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing 855 people and injuring nearly 1,900 others despite a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.
Dozens of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks carried out across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll from Israel’s onslaught since October 2023 to more than 50,200.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged Palestinian region.
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