Israeli attack on southern Syria kills army officer

The Israeli armed forces may have repeatedly violated fundamental principles of the laws of war during their military operation in the Gaza Strip and failed to distinguish between civilians and combatants, the United Nations Office for Human Rights said on Wednesday.

The United Nations Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) said in a report on six Israeli attacks that caused numerous casualties and destroyed civilian infrastructure that Israeli forces “may have systematically violated the principles of distinction, proportionality and caution in attacks”.

“The requirement to select means and methods of warfare in such a way as to avoid or at least minimize harm to the civilian population appears to be consistently violated in Israel’s bombing campaign,” said Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Israel’s permanent mission to the United Nations in Geneva described the analysis as “factually, legally and methodologically flawed.”

“Since the OHCHR has at best an incomplete picture of the facts, any attempt to draw legal conclusions is inherently flawed,” the Israeli diplomatic mission said in a statement.

The report describes six incidents that occurred between October 7 and December 2. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was able to determine the type of weapons and the means and methods used in these attacks.

“We felt it was important to release this report now, especially because in the case of some of these attacks eight months have already passed and we are still waiting for credible and transparent investigations,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

“First, we call on the Israeli authorities to take steps to ensure that proper and transparent investigations are carried out.”

She added that in the absence of transparent investigations, there was “a need for international action in this regard too.”

According to local health authorities, more than 37,400 people have been killed by the Israeli air and ground offensive in the Palestinian territories ruled by Hamas.

Israel launched its attack after Hamas fighters crossed the border into southern Israel on October 7. According to Israeli sources, they killed around 1,200 people and took over 250 hostage.

Last week, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said the killing of civilians during an Israeli operation to free four hostages may be a war crime, but said the holding of prisoners by Palestinian fighters in densely populated areas could also be a war crime.