The United Nations has officially accused Israel of committing a massive genocide against Palestinian civilians living in Gaza.
The UN special committee, comprised of comprised three member states – Malaysia, Senegal and Sri Lanka – claims Israel used starvation as a weapon of war
Middleeasteye.net reports: The report, released amid ongoing scrutiny of Israel’s military response to the October 7 Hamas attack, highlights the difficult conditions facing Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, particularly in terms of restricted access to food, water, medical care and shelter.
“Civilians have been indiscriminately and disproportionally killed en masse in Gaza, while in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Israeli colonial settlers, military and security personnel have continued to violate human rights and humanitarian law with impunity,” its report said.
The committee added that Israeli government and military officials must be held accountable, including for using dehumanising language and inciting violence.
The report goes further than just actions taken by Israel during its devastating war on Gaza.
The committee accuses Israel of “discriminatory” legislation and measures that maintain a near-complete separation of Palestinians from Israeli settlers, in breach of article 3 on racial segregation and apartheid under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Israel’s violations of UN Security Council resolutions and orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are “weakening” the international rules-based order, the committee said.
The report recommends that UN member states exercise their leverage to stop Israel from practices and policies that violate Palestinian human rights; halt all offensive arms transfers; hold Israelis accountable and review financial policies that allow religious and charitable organisations from funding activities in Israel.
Multiple fronts
Israeli lawmakers cited allegations of Hamas infiltration within Unrwa as the reason for this decision, prompting concerns from UN officials that the move could further hinder relief efforts.
The report urges international bodies to increase support for Unrwa, both politically and financially, as the agency faces growing challenges in delivering vital services to the Palestinian population.