06/12/2024June 12, 2024
UN commission accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes in Gaza
and Palestinian militant groups have committed war crimes in the Gaza Strip since the started on October 7, a commission reported on Wednesday.
It accused Israel of crimes against humanity including “extermination, murder, sexual violence against Palestinian men and boys, forced relocation, torture and inhumane treatment.”
UN Human Rights Council Commission chairwoman Navi Pillay called on Israel to end its military action in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli ambassador to the UN, Meirav Shahar, rejected the findings and accused the commission of “systematic discrimination” against Israel. Shahar said it had “proven once again that its activities are in service of a political agenda aimed against Israel.”
The commission’s report also listed attacks on civilians, torture, inhumane and cruel treatment and hostage-taking as war crimes committed by and six other armed groups in the .
“The taking of hostages constitutes a war crime,” Pillay said, calling an end to the attacks by Palestinian armed groups on Israel and the release of all hostages.
Israel launched a large-scale military offensive following the Hamas-led terror attack on October 7 during which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage.
Since the start of the war over, 37,000 Palestinians have been killed according to Hamas-run health authorities.
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