UN chief criticizes Israel, says Hamas attacks not isolated.
Israel’s Bombardment of Gaza Violates International Law, Says UN Official
The top United Nations official has condemned Israel’s bombardment of Gaza as “clear violations of international law” and called for an “immediate ceasefire” due to the increasing number of civilian casualties in the conflict with Hamas.
“Even war has rules,”
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Tuesday. “Let me be clear: No party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law.”
This statement represents a significant rebuke of Israel at a high-profile U.N. Security Council meeting, which comes as U.S. forces in the Middle East and officials worldwide prepare for a potential escalation of the war. While the crisis was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack, documented by terrorists filming their massacres of Israeli civilians, Guterres argued that Israel’s policy towards the Palestinians is at the root of the crisis.
“It is important to also recognize that the attacks by Hamas did not happen in a vacuum. The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,”
he stated. “But the grievances of the Palestinian people cannot justify the appalling attacks by Hamas. And those appalling attacks cannot justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”
President Joe Biden, who recently visited Israel, has publicly shown more support while urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to minimize civilian casualties.
“You can’t witness what has happened here to your loved ones and not demand justice. Justice must be served,”
Biden expressed during his trip to Tel Aviv. “But while you feel anger, don’t let it consume you. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. And while we sought justice and achieved it, we also made mistakes.”
Israeli officials have been clear that Hamas cannot use human shields to deflect the Israel Defense Forces, whose mission is to dismantle the group following their massacre of over 1,400 civilians on October 7th.
“Israel is currently engaged in a war initiated by the Hamas terror group. We already regret it,”
stated IDF chief of staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. “And with each passing minute, we strike the enemy even harder: killing terrorists, destroying infrastructure, and gathering intelligence for the next stage… This is our state, our home, and we will defend it by any means necessary.”
However, these bombardments have come at a high cost for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. A top IDF air force general admitted that while there is always a military target, the strikes are not precise. Guterres revealed that at least 35 U.N. employees in Gaza have been killed in the attacks.
“I condemn these and many other similar killings,”
Guterres stated. “Protecting civilians is of utmost importance in any armed conflict. Protecting civilians should never involve using them as human shields.”
Israeli officials issued an evacuation order for the northern half of the Gaza Strip, but Hamas instructed Palestinian civilians to ignore it. Israeli forces continue to conduct airstrikes in the area, including one that hit a residential building near the U.N. headquarters in Rafah, resulting in casualties.
Guterres criticized Israel’s evacuation policy as inadequate and failing to protect civilians.
“Protecting civilians does not mean ordering over 1 million people to evacuate to the south, where there is no shelter, food, water, medicine, or fuel, and then continuing to bomb the south itself,”
he emphasized. “I am deeply concerned about the clear violations of international humanitarian law that we are witnessing in Gaza.”
The vulnerability of Palestinian civilians is worsened by Egypt and Jordan’s refusal to accept refugees. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi justified this policy by claiming that Hamas would use refugee camps in Egypt as bases for terrorist operations against Israel, jeopardizing the peace agreement signed between Egypt and Israel in 1979. While Israeli officials have allowed limited aid into the Gaza Strip, they argue that the wider crisis is Hamas’s responsibility.
“Hamas has stockpiled over 1 million liters of fuel in Gaza but is not providing it to hospitals in need,”
stated IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus. “Hamas is accountable for the suffering in Gaza, not Israel.”
Guterres, who visited the Rafah crossing, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow aid into Gaza on a scale that matches the enormous needs of the civilian population.
“That aid must be delivered without restrictions,”
he added.
How can human rights organizations ensure the safety and protection of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire in Gaza?
Ecting them and ensuring their safety should be the priority for all parties involved.”
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also expressed concern over the situation in Gaza and has announced its intention to investigate alleged war crimes committed by both Israel and Hamas. This investigation could potentially result in accountability for those responsible for violations of international law during the conflict.
Human rights organizations have called for a halt to the bombardment and for an immediate ceasefire to protect the lives of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. The indiscriminate targeting of civilian areas, including residential buildings and infrastructure, is a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Furthermore, the disproportionate use of force by Israel has raised concerns about the principle of proportionality, which requires that the use of force must be proportionate to the threat faced. The high number of civilian casualties and the destruction of essential infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools, indicate that the Israeli bombardment is not in line with this principle.
The international community, particularly the United Nations, has a crucial role to play in bringing an end to the violence and ensuring the protection of civilians in Gaza. Diplomatic efforts must be intensified to facilitate a dialogue between Israel and Hamas and to encourage a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
In conclusion, the bombardment of Gaza by Israel is a clear violation of international law, as stated by the United Nations. The increasing number of civilian casualties and the destruction of essential infrastructure demonstrate the need for an immediate ceasefire. Both Israel and Hamas must be held accountable for their actions, and the international community must work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Only through dialogue and respect for international humanitarian law can we hope to achieve lasting peace in the region.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
