The United Nations human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday that Israel’s bombardment of besieged Gaza that left at least 253 Palestinian dead constitutes “war crimes”.
Bachelet, opening a special session of the UN Human Rights Council, called at the request of Pakistan – on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation – and Palestine, said she had seen no evidence that civilian buildings in Gaza hit by Israeli attacks were being used for military purposes.
“The Israeli attacks resulted in extensive civilian deaths and injuries, as well as large-scale destruction and damage to civilian objects,” said the UN rights chief, highlighting the scale of the destruction in Gaza.
Basma Qaddour