U.N. rights chief: war crimes committed by all parties in Israel-Hamas conflict

29/2/2024 18:02

        U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk on Thursday said war crimes had been committed by all parties in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, calling for them to be investigated and for those responsible to be held accountable.
        
        Turk told the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, "Clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws, including war crimes and possibly other crimes under international law, have been committed by all parties."
        
        According to Israeli tallies, Hamas gunmen killed 1,200 people and captured 253 hostages in an attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
        
        The attack sparked an Israeli offensive in Hamas-run Gaza, which it says is intended to rescue the remaining hostages and eradicate Hamas. Health authorities in Gaza say some 30,000 people have been confirmed killed during the offensive.
        
        Turk, who was presenting a report on the human rights situation in Gaza and in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, said his office had recorded "many incidents that may amount to war crimes by Israeli forces".