The United Nations Calls Israel Performing Unprecedented Human Rights Abandonment In The Gaza Strip

JAKARTA - The United Nations (UN) Head of Human Rights (HAM) accused Israel on Wednesday of showing unprecedented neglect of human rights in military campaigns in the Gaza Strip, on the other hand also saying Hamas had violated international law.

"No one justifies the horrific way Israel has carried out its military operations in Gaza that have consistently violated international law", Volker Turk said when delivering a new report on the human rights situation in Gaza, the occupied West Bank of Israel and East Jerusalem to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

Laporan oleh Kantor Komisaris Tinggi PBB untuk Hak Asasi Manusia (OHCHR) juga menuduh Hamas melakukan pelanggaran berat sejak 7 Oktober.

"Hamas has fired indiscriminate projectiles into Israeli territory, which is a war crime", Turk said.

Israel did not send a delegation to deliver their comments, which Chilean representatives said were very regrettable.

Israel has previously strongly denied allegations of war crimes and violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, saying its operations targeted Hamas militants and aimed at easing civilian losses.

"The extent of the destruction in Gaza is enormous from homes, hospitals to schools," Turk said, adding "restrictions imposed by Israel have created a humanitarian catastrophe", Turk told the Council.

Turk told the Council the report highlighted serious concerns that Hamas "may have violated other humanitarian law in Gaza, including the deliberate joint deployment of Palestinian military and civilian targets."

He called for all violations to be investigated independently. However, he cast doubt on the Israeli justice system's desire to give full accountability, in accordance with international standards, saying he was not aware of any action taken by Hamas and other groups to punish those responsible for human rights abuses.

The OHCHR report said it had not received a response from Israel at its request for full access to Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory to investigate violations by all parties.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Representatives on the Council accused Israel of war crimes and genocide against Palestinians, and refused to provide assistance to the enclave. Israel has repeatedly denied the allegations.

"The fine has been rejected along with the model's house. It has hindered access to food and medicine," said Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ibrahim Khraishi.

He also strongly condemned the violence of Israeli settlers and military operations in the West Bank, which was mentioned in the report.

At least 40,000 Palestinians have fled their homes in Jenin and the nearby city of Tulkarm in the northern West Bank since Israel began operations last month after reaching a ceasefire agreement in Gaza after 15 months of war.

"The endless series of atrocities committed against Palestinians has never happened before," said Frankye Bronwen Levy, South Africa's representative.

The European Union supports calls for the report for an independent investigation, condemning Hamas attacks, as well as Israel's escalation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, repeated calls to end the war and realize the Palestinian state.