Human rights defenders have reiterated calls for all parties in the ongoing conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip to respect humanitarian laws and avoid making civilians and aid workers targets.
This comes amid mounting concerns over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip for days, since a surprise attack by Hamas militants on Saturday (Oct 7) killed some 1,200 people. The retaliatory strikes by Israel, which has formally declared war on Hamas, have killed more than 1,100 people and left entire neighbourhoods in shambles.
Ms Ravina Shamdasani, chief spokesperson at the United Nations Human Rights Office, said both sides have to abide by international humanitarian laws, which are crafted “to ensure that even in the conduct of hostilities, there are certain actions that are entirely prohibited”.
“The civilian population must be spared,” she told CNA’s Asia Tonight on Wednesday.
“All steps must be taken to ensure that they are not killed or injured, that essential civilian infrastructure is not hit and certainly not targeted. These are laws that were exactly drafted and crafted for such situations.” Läs artikel