International Desk //

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said, “The horrific military operation that Israel has carried out in Gaza is a consistent violation of international law. It is in no way justifiable.”

He made the remarks while presenting a report on the human rights situation in Gaza, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday (February 27) local time.

The report by the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR) accused Hamas of serious violations since October 7. Turk said, “Hamas has fired projectiles (surface-launched missiles or rockets) into Israeli territory indiscriminately, which amounts to war crimes.”

According to Israeli statistics, 1,200 people were killed in Hamas attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas fighters took more than 250 people hostage and took them to Gaza.

Since that day, the Israeli army has carried out a retaliatory attack on Gaza. In the 15-month-long attack, more than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 100,000 injured.

Meanwhile, Israel has not sent a representative to express its opinion on the OHCHR report. The Chilean representative called the matter “regrettable.”

Israel, however, has always strongly denied allegations of war crimes and violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. It claims that its operations are only targeting Hamas members and are aimed at minimizing civilian casualties.

Turk said, “The scale of the destruction in Gaza is enormous – from homes to hospitals and schools.” Turk also said that the restrictions imposed by Israel have created a humanitarian disaster.

In his report to the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, Turk raised other serious concerns. The report also raised concerns that Hamas may be committing other violations of humanitarian law in Gaza. Such violations include the use of the same location for civilians and military operations.

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