The United Nations on Friday said Israeli actions in Gaza, including strikes on populated areas in which civilians have been killed, bear the hallmarks of atrocities.
Spokesperson for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, said this on Friday in Geneva.
“There is a callous disregard for human life and dignity. The acts of war that we see bear the hallmarks of atrocity crimes.
“Every day we have seen children being killed, aid workers being killed, people being forcibly displaced with no means for their survival,” added Laerke, who also noted the resumption of rocket fire from Palestinian factions in Gaza.
However, Israel denied violating humanitarian law in Gaza and blamed Hamas fighters for harming civilians for operating among them, which the fighters denied.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister have been indicted alongside Hamas leaders by the International Criminal Court in the Hague on war crimes charges, which Israel rejects.
According to Laerke, stocks of food and medical supplies are running out very fast as the Israeli authorities have blocked aid from crossing into the enclave since March 2.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said it would not allow the entry of all goods and supplies into the enclave until all remaining hostages were released.
The World Food Programme said it has 5,700 tonnes of food stocks left in Gaza, enough to support its operations for two weeks at most.
According to the World Health Organization, WHO, there are also severe shortages of blood supplies to treat the wounded in Gaza.