UN report chronicling Gaza war crimes is ‘damning’

 

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  James Bays

Reporting from Bari, Italy

The report by the UN’s independent Commission of Inquiry is damning. The bit that’s on the occupied Palestinian territory includes findings that are really serious.

According to the commission, Israel has carried out crimes against humanity, including the crime of extermination. It talks about Israel using starvation as a method of warfare, intentional attacks on civilians and collective punishment, including the use of sieges.

With regard to October 7, the report is very critical of Hamas. It says Hamas carried out war crimes too – wilful killings, murder and torture.

And it does say there are some instances of sexual violence and gender-based violence, although, on that, it’s worth noting that it’s looked at some of the allegations of rape made by Israeli authorities and some Israeli journalists and says it cannot independently verify some of those allegations.

A lot of evidence has clearly been gathered here that can potentially go to a judicial body at a later stage.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/6/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-mediators-reviewing-hamas-ceasefire-response?update=2969799