Geneva, Nov 1 – The Israeli forces’ shelling of the Jebalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip could be considered a war crime, according to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In a social media post, OHCHR stated that considering the high number of civilian casualties and the extent of destruction caused by Israeli airstrikes on the Jebalia camp, there are serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that may amount to war crimes.
Yesterday, the Gaza Ministry of Interior announced that at least 400 people were killed or injured during the airstrikes on Jebalia. Later, IDF representative Richard Hecht confirmed that Israel targeted the refugee camp in an attempt to eliminate a Hamas commander. He referred to the civilian casualties as a tragedy but placed the responsibility for their deaths on the leadership of the Palestinian movement.
Today, the WAFA agency reported that the Israeli army has once again attacked the refugee camp, launching over ten rockets at the site. As a result, dozens more people have been killed. Earlier, OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated that Israel’s collective punishment of the Gaza population through blockade and bombardments of densely populated areas constitutes a war crime.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rooted in territorial interests, has been a source of tension and conflict in the Middle East for decades. In 1947, the UN decided to create two states – Palestine and Israel, with active participation from the USSR. However, only the latter was established. The recent escalation of hostilities began after Israel faced an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7. Following the massive shelling, Hamas fighters infiltrated the border regions in southern Israel, firing at both military and civilian targets and taking hostages. Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation. In response, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation “Iron Swords” in the Gaza Strip. In the following days, Israeli forces took control of all border towns and began airstrikes on various targets, including civilian ones, within the enclave. Additionally, Israel declared a complete blockade on Gaza, suspending the delivery of water, food, electricity, medicine, and fuel. The number of casualties in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 8,500, with over 21,000 injured. In Israel, over 1,400 people, including 20 Russians, have been killed. Furthermore, according to various estimates, around 240 people may be held captive by Hamas.
