Israel’s strikes on Gaza refugee camp could be war crimes, UN says
- The Jabalia camp was bombed twice in two days, killing and wounding dozens, even as the Israeli military says Hamas commanders were the targets
- The UN Human Rights Office says given the scale of destruction and high number of civilian casualties, it is concerned that these were disproportionate attacks
Deadly Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip’s largest refugee camp “could amount to war crimes”, the UN Human Rights Office said on Wednesday.
Israeli strikes have targeted the Jabalia refugee camp twice in two days. Gaza’s Hamas-run government media office said on Thursday that at least 195 Palestinians were killed in the two Israeli attacks, with 120 still missing under the rubble. At least 777 more were wounded, it said in a statement.
“Given the high number of civilian casualties & the scale of destruction following Israeli air strikes on Jabalia refugee camp, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that could amount to war crimes,” the UN Human Rights Office wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Israel said Tuesday’s raid was a successful hit on top Hamas commander Ibrahim Biari, and that the Wednesday attack killed Muhammad A’sar, the head of the group’s anti-tank missile unit.
Israel has relentlessly pounded Gaza in retribution for the worst attack in the country’s history.