‘Horrendous events’ in Gaza in past days ‘beggar belief’: UN rights chief

AFP | Geneva, Switzerland                                               

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The level of violence ravaging Gaza in recent days is unfathomable, the UN rights chief said yesterday, with attacks on schools harbouring displaced people and a hospital turned into a “death zone”.

“The killing of so many people at schools turned shelters, hundreds fleeing for their lives from Al-Shifa Hospital, amid continuing displacement of hundreds of thousands in southern Gaza, are actions which fly in the face of the basic protections civilians must be afforded under international law,” Turk said.

He described the images purportedly taken in the aftermath of the reported Israeli strike on the UN-run Al-Fakhura school as “horrifying”, and “clearly showing large numbers of women, children and men severely wounded or killed”.

The UN rights chief pointed out that in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, the Israeli military “are dropping leaflets demanding residents go to unspecified “recognised shelters”, even as strikes take place across Gaza”.

“Irrespective of warnings, Israel is obliged to protect civilians wherever they are”, he said, pointing to the principles under international law of distinction, proportionality and precautions when carrying out attacks.

“Failure to adhere to these rules may constitute war crimes,” Turk said.