The United Nations has strongly criticized Israel’s recent decision to cut off all essential supplies, including food, water, electricity, and fuel, to the Gaza Strip.
In Geneva on Tuesday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that such actions were in clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits the deprivation of resources essential for people’s survival.
“Under international humanitarian law, it is strictly forbidden to impose sieges that put civilian lives at risk by depriving them of vital goods,” Türk emphasized.
He further added, “Restrictions on the movement of people and goods can only be justified by military necessity and should not result in collective punishment.”
Israel’s decision to enforce a complete siege on the Palestinian territory was in response to a major attack by Hamas, which claimed the lives of approximately 900 people.
Since then, the Israeli air force has carried out retaliatory strikes on Gaza, resulting in the deaths of several hundred people.
