The UN human rights office indicated on Wednesday that Israeli forces may have violated international laws of war by potentially failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants during the Gaza conflict. Additionally, the head of a UN inquiry accused the Israeli military of conducting a campaign that amounted to “extermination” of Palestinians.
In a detailed report on six deadly Israeli attacks, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) suggested that Israeli forces may have systematically disregarded principles such as distinction, proportionality, and precaution in their military actions.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk remarked that Israel’s bombing campaign appeared to consistently overlook the requirement to choose warfare methods that minimize civilian harm, if not avoid it entirely.
Israel’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva criticized this analysis, describing it as flawed in terms of factual accuracy, legality, and methodology. The mission argued that the OHCHR’s understanding was incomplete and cautioned against drawing legal conclusions on such grounds.
In a separate session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Navi Pillay, head of a UN Commission of Inquiry, emphasized the need to hold accountable those responsible for abuses during the conflict. She reiterated findings from a recent report indicating that Israel bore primary responsibility for serious violations of international law, including crimes against humanity.
Pillay characterized the scale of civilian casualties among Palestinians as amounting to “extermination,” attributing it to what she described as Israel’s intentional strategy to inflict maximum damage through extensive civilian deaths and infrastructure destruction.
Israel, which typically does not cooperate with such inquiries and accuses them of anti-Israel bias, had a mother of a hostage speak on its behalf. The mother, Meirav Gonen, pleaded for more attention to hostages in the conflict.
The report from the UN rights office detailed six incidents between October 7 and December 2, examining the types of weaponry and methods used in these attacks. It stressed the importance of releasing this information promptly due to the delay in credible and transparent investigations.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, highlighted the necessity for international action in the absence of transparent investigations into the incidents.
Pillay condemned Israel’s use of heavy weaponry in densely populated areas, characterizing it as a deliberate and direct assault on civilians. Commissioner Chris Sidoti later informed reporters that the inquiry’s findings, shared with the International Criminal Court, positioned Israel as among the most culpable military forces globally.
Sidoti underscored that the inquiry aimed to investigate the treatment of hostages and thousands of Palestinian detainees in Israeli custody, noting significant challenges in obtaining cooperation from Israeli authorities.
