United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned Oct. 25 that “the darkest moment of the Gaza conflict is unfolding in the north of the Strip.” Calling for urgent action by the international community, Türk stated: “Unimaginably, the situation is getting worse by the day. The Israeli Government’s…practices in northern Gaza risk emptying the area of all Palestinians. We are facing what could amount to…crimes against humanity.” Türk asserted that under the Geneva Convention, member states have “an obligation to act when a serious violation of international humanitarian law has been committed.”
South Africa continues to pursue proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice, charging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Several countries, including Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Spain, Turkey, Libya and Palestine have also filed declarations of intervention in support of the case. (Jurist)
See our last reports on accusations of genocide against Israel.
Photo: badwanart0/Pixabay via Jurist
Forced expulsion of Palestinians from north Gaza: reports
As Israel tightens its siege and intensifies its assault on northern Gaza, reports have emerged of Israeli forces entering shelters, separating men from women and children, and forcing people to move to the south of the enclave at gunpoint. Video footage has also emerged of long lines of Palestinians making their way through the devastated landscape of northern Gaza, heading south. In an Oct. 20 statement reminding Israel that the International Court of Justice has ordered it to take all actions to prevent genocidal acts, the UN’s human rights office said Israel’s actions “may be causing the destruction of the Palestinian population in Gaza’s northernmost governorate.”
Israel’s campaign in the north has forced the World Health Organization to pause the final phase of a polio vaccination campaign in the area while worsening an already dire food shortage crisis throughout the enclave. In September, Israel allowed the lowest amount of aid and commercial goods into Gaza since March. “This sharp decline will profoundly limit food availability and the ability of families to feed themselves and access services in the next few months,” a new assessment by a group of UN-backed experts said, highlighting the continuing risk of famine in the enclave. (TNH)