Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip continues despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. The unabated Israeli military campaign and bombardment have killed at least 32,490 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The exact toll is likely to be higher as a number of victims remain buried under the rubble.
This is not the first time the occupying Israeli forces have disregarded the international law and UN resolutions. Israeli military has continued killing civilians even after the International Court of Justice directed it to prevent genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance, and prevent and punish incitement to commit genocide. Israel has also previously disregarded United Nations General Assembly resolutions to end the war and allow in enough humanitarian aid.
Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory, yesterday said that Israel’s “genocidal incitement” against Palestinians in Gaza transcends the scope of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Speaking to journalists during the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the special rapporteur said Israel had used “humanitarian camouflage” to pursue nearly six months of intense bombardment in Gaza. Albanese’s comments came a day after she presented a report to the UN Human Rights Council, in which she said there were “reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide” had been met.
For its part, the State of Qatar has continued its efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, increase delivery of humanitarian assistance, and release of hostages and detainees. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that Qatar’s mediation and negotiations, along with partners, continue. Qatar has maintained that the conflicts can only be resolved through diplomatic efforts and negotiations.
At the UN Human Right Council session, Qatar has once again called for ending Israeli violations and protecting the rights of Palestinians. Qatar’s representative said the aggression launched by Israeli forces against Gaza since October 7, their use of lethal weapons, deliberate targeting of civilian facilities, homes, schools, and hospitals, killing innocent people, most of whom are women and children, starving, displacing, arresting, and torturing them, as well as denying them access to humanitarian and medical aid, are all proofs of the Israeli authorities’ insistence on continuing their settlement schemes and racist crimes to exterminate the Palestinian people and end the two-state solution. Qatar has also continued its humanitarian assistance mission for Palestinians, sending 87th aircraft carrying aid yesterday.
