United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Tuesday urged the world to act to prevent the total collapse of critical life-saving support in Gaza, where Israeli strikes continue to kill civilians, including in shelters and health facilities.’As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new unseen level,’ Turk said.’Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment,’ the High Commissioner warned.He also warned that a reported Israeli plan to declare Rafah governorate as a new ‘humanitarian zone’ would require Palestinians to move there to receive food and humanitarian aid. ‘Such a plan will almost certainly mean large parts of Gaza and those who cannot easily move, including people with disabilities, those who are sick or injured, and women supporting entire families, will be forced to go without food,’ Turk said.Turk also condemned Israel's continued targeting of locations in Gaza where Palestinian civilians are sheltering.’These incidents reflect the pattern we have seen during this escalation, of attacks that raise grave concerns of violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions. Each of these incidents must be fully investigated. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities would constitute a war crime,’ Turk stressed.Meanwhile, Israeli forces have continued to target civilian objects indispensable to the survival of the population, including excavators, water trucks and sewer suction tanks, he said, adding that these were used for relief operations, such as removing debris, distributing water and repairing sanitation systems.Between March 18 and April 27, the UN Human Rights Office recorded 259 attacks on residential buildings and 99 on tents of internally displaced people (IDP).Among the strikes on IDP tents, 40 reportedly took place in Al-Mawasi area, where the Israeli army repeatedly directed civilians to seek refuge, it said. (
