Israel Accused of Using Starvation as a Weapon in Gaza: UN Report

Introduction

The United Nations Special Committee has accused Israel of intentionally causing death, starvation, and serious injury in Gaza through its siege, obstruction of humanitarian aid, and targeted attacks on civilians and aid workers. Despite repeated appeals and resolutions, Israel continues to inflict collective punishment on the Palestinian population, according to a recent press release.

The UN Committee’s Findings

Israeli Military’s Use of AI-Assisted Targeting

• The committee highlighted Israel’s use of AI-assisted targeting with minimal human oversight, combined with heavy bombs, as a violation of its obligation to distinguish between civilians and combatants.
• Israel’s military actions have led to civilian deaths and disregard for safeguarding measures.
  

  Destruction of Vital Infrastructure
  

• Israeli officials have publicly supported policies to destroy vital water, sanitation, and food systems in Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
• Prevention of access to fuel further compounds the dire situation in the region.
  

  Israel’s Response and Counterclaims
  

• COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for approving aid shipments into Gaza, denied using hunger as a weapon of war.
• Israel claims to have increased the quantity of food trucks entering Gaza and asserts that it is making significant efforts to facilitate aid entry without limitations.
• However, the agency criticized the UN’s distribution of aid in Gaza as ineffective and inconsistent.
  

  Rejection of Accusations and Self-Defence Claims
  

• Earlier this year, Israel rejected accusations of genocide leveled against it, stating that its military actions were in self-defence and targeted Hamas, not Palestinians.
• Israel cited the October 7, 2023, terror attacks in Israel as a justification for its military actions.
  

  Human Rights Watch Report
  

• The UN report follows a Human Rights Watch report detailing Israel’s forced mass displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, deemed a war crime and crime against humanity.
• Israeli military maintains its commitment to international law and issues evacuation orders to protect civilians during combat operations.
  

  Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis
  

• Palestinians fleeing northern Gaza describe a chronic lack of food and reports of people dying of hunger, with aid agencies warning of an impending famine.
• Despite claims of aid not reaching those in need, the Biden administration assessed that Israel is not violating US law governing foreign military assistance.
  

  Conclusion
  

  The situation in Gaza remains dire, with conflicting narratives from different parties regarding the access and distribution of humanitarian aid. The UN report sheds light on the ongoing crisis, urging for immediate action to prevent further suffering in the region.

  FAQ
  

  Is Israel intentionally causing starvation in Gaza?
  

  The UN committee has accused Israel of using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population.

  What is Israel’s response to the accusations?
  

  Israel denies using hunger as a weapon of war and claims to be making significant efforts to facilitate aid entry into Gaza. However, criticisms of the UN’s aid distribution in the region have been raised.