The United Nations is renewing its urgent plea for aid agencies to be granted access to Gaza while warning that current military actions may constitute war crimes.
Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed concern that the Israeli military’s directive for Palestinians to relocate from the north to the south could be classified as a “forcible transfer of civilians,” which would be a violation of international law.
While the International Criminal Court (ICC) has the authority to investigate war crimes, the legal landscape is complex because the Palestinians are members of the court, whereas Israel is not.
Shamdasani emphasized that attacks on civilians attempting to flee must be subjected to independent investigations. Additionally, she called for the immediate and unconditional release of the approximately 199 Israeli hostages currently being held.
