UN Raises Concerns Over Potential War Crimes in Israeli-Palestinian Raid

The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed concerns about possible war crimes committed by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups during a recent raid that freed four hostages.

The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised concerns about possible war crimes committed by both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups during a deadly raid that freed four hostages over the weekend.

Office spokesman Jeremy Laurence expressed concerns about possible violations of rules of proportionality, distinction, and precaution by the Israeli forces in Saturday's raid at the urban Nuseirat refugee camp.

Palestinian health officials say at least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children, were killed in the operation.

Laurence said Palestinian armed groups who are holding hostages in densely populated areas are putting the lives of nearby civilians and the hostages at "added risks" from the hostilities.

"All these actions by both parties may amount to war crimes," he told a regular U.N. briefing in Geneva.

"It was catastrophic, the way that this was carried out in that civilians — again — were caught smack bang in the middle of this," Laurence added.

The Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva criticized the U.N. Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, saying the "high commissioner has finally realized that Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields."

"Yet, instead of taking a clear and consistent stance against this abhorrent strategy, he falls into the habit of slandering Israel," the statement said. "This time, for rescuing our hostages."

The Associated Press could not immediately reach the rights office for a comment.

Israel launched its war against Hamas after the group's stunning Oct. 7 attack, in which the militants stormed into southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and took about 250 hostage.

Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has killed more than 36,730 people, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count.

Palestinians are facing widespread hunger because the war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine, and other supplies. U.N. agencies say over 1 million in Gaza could experience the highest level of starvation by mid-July.

The United States has called for a ceasefire and urged both sides to adhere to international law. The United Kingdom has also condemned the violence and called for a halt to the fighting.

The United Nations Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

Despite the international calls for a ceasefire, the situation on the ground remains tense. There are concerns about possible further escalation of violence and the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The underlying issues that led to the conflict, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories, remain unresolved.