Israel commits ‘extermination' in Gaza by killing in schools, say UN experts
VIENNA : UN experts said in a report on today that Israel committed the crime against humanity of 'extermination' by killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites in Gaza, part of a 'concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life'.
The United Nations independent international commission of inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel was due to present the report to Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on June 17.
'We are seeing more and more indications that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life in Gaza,' former UN high commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who chairs the commission, said in a statement.
'Israel's targeting of the educational, cultural and religious life of the Palestinian people will harm the present generations and generations to come, hindering their right to self-determination,' she added.
The commission examined attacks on educational facilities and religious and cultural sites to assess if international law was breached.
Israel disengaged from the Human Rights Council in February, alleging it was biased.
When the commission's last report in March found Israel carried out 'genocidal acts' against Palestinians by systematically destroying women's healthcare facilities during the conflict in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the findings were biased and antisemitic.
In its latest report, the commission said Israel had destroyed more than 90% of the school and university buildings and more than half of all religious and cultural sites in Gaza.
'Israeli forces committed war crimes, including directing attacks against civilians and wilful killing, in their attacks on educational facilities … In killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites, Israeli security forces committed the crime against humanity of extermination,' it said.
The war was triggered when Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in Israel in a surprise attack in October 2023, and took 251 hostages back to the enclave, according to Israeli tallies.
Israel responded with a military campaign that has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
Harm done to the Palestinian education system was not confined to Gaza, the report found, citing increased Israeli military operations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as well as harassment of students and settler attacks there.
'Israeli authorities have also targeted Israeli and Palestinian educational personnel and students inside Israel who expressed concern or solidarity with the civilian population in Gaza, resulting in their harassment, dismissal or suspension and in some cases humiliating arrests and detention,' it said.
'Israeli authorities have particularly targeted female educators and students, intending to deter women and girls from activism in public places,' the commission added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cambodia urges Thailand to return soldiers taken in border clashes
FILE PHOTO: This handout photograph taken and released by the Royal Thai Army on July 27, 2025 shows Thai soldiers preparing to repatriate the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers to Cambodian authorities at the Chong Sa-ngam border checkpoint between Thailand and Cambodia, in the Thai border province of Sisaket. Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said on July 31 that talks with Thailand were under way for the release of 20 Cambodian soldiers.- AFP Photo/Royal Thai Army/Handout PHNOM PENH: Cambodia called on Thailand Thursday (July 31) to return 20 soldiers it said were taken captive hours after a ceasefire to halt the neighbours' bloodiest border clashes in decades. The two countries agreed a truce on Tuesday following five days of clashes that killed at least 43 people on both sides - the latest eruption of a long-standing dispute over contested border temples on their 800-kilometre frontier. ALSO READ: Hun Manet: Non-disclosure of information regarding captured Cambodian soldiers 'for their own safety' Bangkok said there were no reports of violence during the night up to 7:00 am (0000 GMT), after both sides traded allegations of ceasefire breaches on Wednesday. Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thursday that talks were under way for the release of 20 soldiers. "We will do our best to continue negotiations with the Thai side in order to bring all our soldiers back home safely and as soon possible," she told a briefing. "We call on the Thai side to send all 20 military personnel back to Cambodia as soon possible." The troops were captured around 7:50 am on Tuesday, she said - nearly eight hours after the ceasefire came into effect. Thailand's government said Wednesday the detained soldiers were being treated in line with international humanitarian law and military regulations, and would be returned when the border situation stabilises. UN rights chief Volker Turk urged the neighbouring nations to implement their ceasefire deal in full and take rapid steps to build confidence and peace. "This crucial agreement must be fully respected, in good faith, by both sides, as diplomatic efforts continue, in a bid to resolve the root causes of the conflict," he said. The agreement to stop fighting was sealed in Malaysia after an intervention by US President Donald Trump - whom both Thailand and Cambodia are courting for a trade deal to avert his threat of eye-watering tariffs. Nearly 300,000 people fled their homes as the two sides battled with jets, rockets and artillery along the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice. Thailand has said 15 of its soldiers and 15 civilians were killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The death toll is significantly higher than in the last major flare-up of violence on the border, when 28 were killed in sporadic fighting from 2008 to 2011. - AFP
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia calls for urgent UN reform
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has called for urgent reform of global institutions, particularly the United Nations (UN), proposing three concrete measures, including the institutionalisation of regular dialogue between the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the UN Security Council. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said the initiative aims to ensure that parliamentary voices are heard in deliberations on peace and security. Speaking during the general debate at the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at the Palais des Nations, UN Office in Geneva, Johari also suggested that the UN establish rapid-response mechanisms for parliamentary cooperation in times of global crisis, taking lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic. "Thirdly, we propose the development of guidelines for parliamentary oversight of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, to safeguard human accountability in an increasingly automated world," he said during the debate, titled A World in Turmoil: Parliamentary Cooperation and Multilateralism for Peace, Justice and Prosperity for All, yesterday. Johari, who is also the 46th Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) President, said that as the host of the upcoming 46th AIPA General Assembly this September, Malaysia remains committed to strengthening democratic institutions and advancing inclusive, just, and sustainable development through action. "Let us remember, prosperity for all requires closing the gaps between rich and poor, men and women, urban and rural. "Justice demands that we address selective inaction in protracted conflicts, including ensuring the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. "This conference must not be a talking shop. It must be a workshop, a space where ideas are forged into tools for action. "The world must know that amidst the chaos, parliamentarians continue to work shoulder to shoulder for peace, justice, and prosperity for all. Malaysia stands ready to do her part," he said. He said Asean remains firmly committed to the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. "Multilateralism has enabled decades of progress in trade, human rights, and poverty eradication. "But today's evolving threats risk eroding these hard-won gains," he said. – Bernama
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
UN conference ends with push for two-state solution, 'New York Declaration'
A United Nations high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine concluded Wednesday at the UN headquarters in New York, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. Held from July 28-30, the meeting brought together senior officials from nearly 130 countries and ended with the adoption of the 'New York Call' and 'New York Declaration' in support of the two-state solution.
