A group of human rights experts commissioned by the UN warned this Thursday that “time is running out to avoid a genocide and a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza”, therefore demanding a ceasefire.
“We remain convinced that the Palestinian people are at serious risk of genocide,” the experts said in a joint statement, arguing that “the time to act is now.”
“Israel’s allies are also responsible and must act now to stop their disastrous course of action,” they stress.
“The situation in Gaza has reached a catastrophic breaking point,” the experts said, warning of the “extreme need” for food, water, medicine, fuel and essential goods, as well as the risk of imminent health risks.
The declaration was signed by Francesca Albanese, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1967. The declaration was also signed by analysts from the UN for Freedom of Expression (Irene Khan), Against Racism (Ashwini KP), on the Right to Food (Michael Fahri), to Water (Pedro Arrojo), to Mental Health (Tlaleng Mofokeng) and to Internally Displaced Persons (Paula Gaviria).
Israel has been heavily bombing the Gaza Strip since Hamas crossed the border on October 7, killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping at least 240 others, including children, according to Israeli authorities.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry says more than 9,000 people have died since the start of the war with Israel, most of them women and children.
UN experts have called for the immediate release of all civilians held captive since the Hamas attack.
“All parties must comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law,” they said.
“We demand a humanitarian ceasefire to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. A ceasefire also means that communication channels can be opened to ensure the release of the hostages,” the experts said.
The Hamas-led Gaza government said 195 people were killed in two days after Israeli strikes on Jabaliya, Gaza’s largest refugee camp, and hundreds more were missing and injured, figures that have not yet been independently verified. .
UN experts expressed “deep horror” at the attacks, classifying them as “a flagrant violation of international law and a war crime.”
“Attacking a camp housing civilians, including women and children, is a complete violation of the rules of proportionality and distinction between combatants and civilians,” the special rapporteurs said.
“Israel and Palestinian armed groups must keep in mind that even wars have rules,” they emphasize.
UN special rapporteurs are independent, unpaid figures appointed by the Human Rights Council. They do not speak on behalf of the United Nations, but they communicate their findings to it as part of the Council’s investigation and monitoring mechanisms.
Source: TSF
