The UN Human Rights Office issues a harsh critique on Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
Following the liberation of four hostages in the Gaza Strip, the UN's Human Rights Office heavily criticized both the Israeli rescue mission and the Hamas hostage-takers. Both the Israeli Army and the radical Islamic Palestinian group may have committed "war crimes," stated the office on Tuesday.
"We are profoundly astonished by the damaging effects of the Israeli military's operations during the weekend in Nuseirat, freeing four hostages, on civilian residents," commented the office's spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, in Geneva. The UN is also greatly concerned that "armed Palestinian groups continue to retain numerous hostages, with most of them being civilians."
On Saturday, the Israeli Army successfully executed a rescue operation in Nuseirat, facilitating the release of four Israeli hostages who were under the control of Hamas. The Islamist Palestinian organization maintained that Israel had taken over 270 lives during the operation at the refugee camp. However, AFP could not independently confirm these allegations.
The UN Human Rights Office representative stated on Tuesday that the Israeli Army's actions "in a highly populated region" raise the issue of whether the military adhered to the fundamental principles of the laws of war, specifically the guidelines of distinction, proportionality, and precaution.
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The UN Human Rights Office further examined the Israeli Army's actions in Nuseirat, accusing them of potentially committing war crimes due to their operations in a highly populated area. The UN Human Rights Office also expressed concern about the ongoing retention of hostages by armed Palestinian groups, with the majority being civilians.
