UN rights chief warns 'Israel' against war crimes in Gaza
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Volker Turk urged the Israeli occupation to allow the massive influx of humanitarian aid needed in Gaza.
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A boy stands near the bodies of people killed in a house hit by an Israeli strike in the courtyard of a hospital in Deir al-Balah on October 4, 2024. (AFP)
UN human rights official Volker Turk warned "Israel" on Thursday that any "large-scale forcible transfer" of people out of northern Gaza might be considered a war crime if not justified by "imperative military grounds."
During a news briefing at UN headquarters, Turk stated that "Israel's evacuation orders appear to be designed to completely cut off North Gaza from the rest of the territory," adding that there are "serious concerns" about forcible transfers not matching up to international law amid the bombing campaign.
Turk declared, "Forcible transfer of a large part of the population of North Gaza would amount to a war crime," and urged "Israel" to promptly allow the "massive influx of humanitarian aid that is needed across all parts of Gaza."
According to a report by the Washington Post, Israeli forces have opened fire on UN aid convoys heading to northern Gaza at least four times over the past three months, endangering aid personnel and forcing agencies to be more limited and cautious in how they operate, limiting the amount and scope of aid they can offer.
'Israel' recurrently targets UN vehicles
According to UN and humanitarian officials, vehicles have been damaged and attacks have narrowly missed injuring staff members. On September 9, Israeli soldiers held a UN convoy at gunpoint for seven and a half hours, accusing several individuals in the vehicles of being "wanted men", the report revealed. The individuals were questioned before eventually being allowed to continue their journey.
"They basically surrounded our vehicles, pointing assault rifles at our cars, and they were shouting that we're terrorists," a UN staff member recounted.
Tragedies continue to unfold across the Strip as the siege continues for the 13th consecutive day, during which residents are deprived of access to basic needs for survival.
Oxfam and 37 other humanitarian groups issued a joint statement on Wednesday, saying the Israeli bombardment had reached a "horrifying level of atrocity" and that the northern part of the Strip is "being wiped off of the map."
"Under the guise of 'evacuation', Israeli forces have ordered the forced displacement of an estimated 400,000 Palestinians trapped in northern Gaza, including Gaza City," according to the NGOs.
Ethnic cleansing plan underway in North Gaza, Israeli soldiers reveal
Israeli media reports indicate that a plan is in progress to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza and eliminate any Palestinians who remain there.
Israeli reserve soldiers stationed in Gaza informed Haaretz this week that they believe the "Generals' Plan", also known as the "Eiland Plan" is being put into action.
“The goal is to give the residents who live north of the Netzarim area a deadline to move to the south of the Strip. After this date, whoever will remain in the North will be considered an enemy and will be killed,” a soldier stationed in the Netzarim Corridor was quoted as saying.
The soldier stated that the plan does not adhere to any standards of international law.
“People sat and wrote a systematic order with charts and an operational concept, at the end of which you shoot whoever isn’t willing to leave. The very existence of this idea is unfathomable.”
On Wednesday, the report stated that there are indications that, although the policy may not yet have been formally adopted by senior military officials who are reportedly discussing it, the plan is already underway.
Haaretz journalist Amos Harel wrote, "Ideas such as intentionally firing near a population and even measures aimed at starving the inhabitants are currently being discussed."
Major international aid organizations have urged leaders and the global community to put an end to "Israel's" forced displacement in northern Gaza.
