The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said Israeli airstrikes in Gaza may have systematically violated the laws of war that protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
That’s the conclusion of a report that said six “signature attacks” targeted residential buildings, schools, refugee camps and markets between October 9 and December 2 last year.
The United Nations said it had verified that at least 218 people were killed and civilian objects destroyed in the incident.
The Israeli mission in Geneva rejected the UN findings, calling them “factually, legally and methodologically flawed”.
It insists the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operations in Gaza comply with international law and accuses Hamas of illegally integrating with civilians.
On October 7, an unprecedented attack in southern Israel left approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and 251 others taken hostage, as the Israeli military launched an operation to destroy Palestinian armed groups.
Since then, more than 37,390 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The group’s data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but by the end of April it had reportedly identified 14,680 children, women and the elderly among the dead.
A report released on Wednesday by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Examined six attacks and said Israel may have violated fundamental principles of the laws of war.
The attacks allegedly used 2,000 lb (907 kg), 1,000 lb (453 kg) and 250 lb (110 kg) air-dropped munitions, known respectively as GBU-31, GBU-32 and GBU-39.
- Jabaliya Market, October 9, 2023 – The explosion destroyed two buildings. The United Nations said it had verified the deaths of at least 42 people, including 14 children, and had received information on the deaths of 18 more. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck multiple military targets, including underground “terror tunnels” and Hamas fighters.
- Taj3 Tower, Gaza City, October 25 – A seven-story residential building and six nearby buildings were destroyed. The United Nations confirmed the deaths of at least 105 people, including 47 children. Seven more deaths were reported. The Israel Defense Forces said the day’s attack hit “some of Hamas’ unique and high-value military assets and infrastructure.”
- Jabaliya Camp, October 31 – Ten buildings in the densely populated refugee camp were destroyed. The United Nations confirmed the deaths of at least 56 people, including 23 children, and received reports of 43 additional deaths. The IDF said the attack killed the commander of a Hamas battalion and “a large number of terrorists” hiding in the tunnels.
- Bureij Camp, November 2 – At least 12 buildings in the refugee camp were destroyed. The United Nations verified the deaths of 15 people, including nine children, and received information on the deaths of seven more. The Israel Defense Forces said it struck “several Hamas infrastructure”.
- November 10, Al-Buraq School, Gaza City – Two floors of the school were partially destroyed. At least 34 deaths were reported. The IDF said the attack hit a Hamas company commander, other operatives and military infrastructure who were holed up there.
- December 2, Shujaiya neighborhood, Gaza City – Fifteen buildings were destroyed. The United Nations received reports of 60 deaths. The IDF said the attack killed a Hamas battalion commander, other militants and military infrastructure.
The United Nations reports that GBU-31, GBU-32 and GBU-39 are mainly used to penetrate several layers of concrete and can completely destroy high-rise buildings.
“Given the dense population of the target area, the use of such weapons of mass destruction is likely to result in indiscriminate attacks,” the report added.
“Explosive weapons with such wide-area destructive power cannot be targeted at specific military targets in Gaza’s densely populated areas, and their impact cannot be limited, resulting in military targets, civilians and civilian objects being hit without distinction.”
No specific warnings were given before the five attacks, and the presence of one commander, several combatants or multiple military targets in an area “does not make an entire community a military target,” the report said.
“Israeli bombing campaigns appear to have consistently violated the requirement to choose means and methods of warfare to avoid, or at least minimize, harm to civilians,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.
He called on Israel to publish the detailed results of the IDF investigations into the six incidents “in order to identify those responsible for the violations, hold them accountable and ensure the rights of all victims to truth, justice and reparation”.
Israel’s mission to the United Nations in Geneva condemns the reportsaying it was “influenced by hindsight and methodological bias, which cast a shadow on the credibility of its legal assessment.”
“The sole purpose of this special report is to lambast and name Israel while further protecting Hamas terrorists in Gaza,” it added.
It also claimed that these conclusions were based on public information and data released by Hamas, ignored operational considerations, and did not address Hamas tactics.
“Hamas systematically and unlawfully embeds its military assets in densely populated areas and conducts military activities among, behind, and beneath civilians, deliberately and strategically to maximize harm to civilians,” the report said. “It also cynically manipulates statistics on casualties.”
“Israel is committed to fulfilling its obligations under national and international law, in particular the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution,” it added.
