"The systematic destruction of Gaza is already underway," the organization says.
MADRID, 21 (EUROPA PRESS)
The United Nations on Wednesday denounced the Israeli authorities' ongoing occupation of Gaza City, accusing them of carrying out more than 50 attacks against residential buildings and entire city blocks, killing nearly 100 Palestinians, since August 8, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his plan to take the enclave's main town.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories has denounced in a statement that since that date, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have carried out "54 attacks against residential buildings and entire neighborhoods in Gaza City, which (...) have caused the death of at least 87 Palestinians, including at least 25 children, 24 men and 12 women."
"Entire families died together in these attacks," the agency lamented, also reporting "attacks on shelters for internally displaced persons, including tents and schools, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 14 Palestinians."
The High Commissioner has warned that "the systematic destruction of Gaza City is already underway," after the Israeli army intensified its bombardment of several locations in the east and south of the Gaza municipality, particularly in the Zeitun neighborhood, where it has caused "a high number of civilian casualties and the large-scale destruction of residential buildings and public facilities."
"Hundreds of families have been forced to flee, including many children, people with disabilities, and the elderly, with nowhere safe to go, amid desperate humanitarian conditions. Meanwhile, others remain trapped, completely deprived of food, water, and medicine," he said.
Thus, he reminded Israel that "as an occupying power, it must not destroy civilian objects unless such destruction is necessary due to military operations," although he considered that, in the case of Gaza City, "it does not appear" that Israeli forces are acting out of "imperative military necessity."
At the same time, he reiterated that "mass displacement does not meet the strict requirements of International Humanitarian Law," referring to the Israeli army's attempts to force Palestinians to relocate – once again – to Al Mawasi, in western Khan Yunis, and warned of possible "serious violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention."
"Considering this imminent risk, the States Parties to the Geneva Conventions have an urgent obligation to exert maximum pressure on Israel to immediately halt this offensive, which risks triggering an unprecedented and potentially life-threatening humanitarian crisis and permanently extinguishing the Palestinian presence in the greater urban area of Gaza," the statement concludes.
