JAKARTA - The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday it "armed" food for civilians in Gaza was a war crime, in its strongest statement so far on a new model of aid distribution run by an Israeli-backed organization.
More than 410 people have been killed by gunfire or bullets fired by the Israeli military while trying to reach the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution site since starting work in late May, UN human rights spokesman Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters at a news conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
The death toll comes from Palestinian health authorities and other sources including non-governmental organizations and is in the process of being verified by his office, he added.
"People who are desperate and hungry in Gaza continue to face inhumane choices, namely hunger or risking death while trying to get food," he said, describing the system as "Israel's military humanitarian aid mechanism".
"Arming food for civilians, in addition to limiting or preventing their access to life-supporting services, is a war crime and, under certain circumstances, can be an element of other crimes under international law," he stressed.
When asked if Israel was guilty of the war crimes, he said: "Legal qualification needs to be made by the courts."
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Israel rejects accusations of war crimes in Gaza and blames Hamas fighters for losses suffered by civilians for operating between them, accusations denied by the Palestinian militant group.
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