Israel is actively destroying food infrastructure in Gaza as part of a larger “starvation campaign” in its fight against Hamas militants. A UN expert criticized a UN human rights panel on Thursday for not taking more decisive action in response.
In an address to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, declared, “The images of starvation in Gaza are unbearable.” He emphasized that the council is taking no action in response to the dire situation.
Five months into the assault against the Islamist Palestinian organization, aid workers have issued warnings of impending starvation. Additionally, hospitals in the enclave’s remote northern region report that malnourished children are beginning to die.
Israel, Fakhri informed the council, was “destroying the food system in Gaza.”
He continued, claiming that “Israel has mounted a starvation campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” which includes a focus on small-scale fishers.
Egypt and Iraq are among the other nations that have criticized Israel for the enclave’s increasing hunger.
The accusations made against the Israeli envoy to the United Nations, according to legal counsel Yeela Cytrin, are a “blatant lie”.
In protest, she informed the council that Israel utterly rejects allegations of using starvation as a tool of war. Subsequently, she left for protest.
Israel has begun collaborating with private contractors to distribute aid and disputes any restrictions on supplies reaching Gaza. According to the statement, it is actively fighting Hamas, which, during their attacks on October 7, took 253 hostages and killed 1,200 people.
FISHING SECTOR HIT IN GAZA
Fakhri, a Lebanese-Canadian law professor, actively contributes as one of the few impartial human rights specialists appointed by the UN. He provides reports and counsel on specific issues and situations, showcasing his expertise and commitment to the field.
In his speech to the 47-member Geneva council, he claimed that Israel is demolishing boats and shacks belonging to small-scale fishermen. Additionally, he asserted that the Israeli authorities are preventing them from accessing the sea.
Since October 7, he added, over 80% of Gaza’s fishing industry has suffered damage. Additionally, Israeli forces have destroyed every boat in Gaza City’s major port.
On October 8, smoke billowed from a boat after Israeli attacks. However, Reuters could not confirm the incident.
In his concluding remarks, Fakhri urged member nations to consider measures, including severing diplomatic ties and implementing arms embargoes. He emphasized the need for proactive action in addressing the situation.
“This is on your watch. Please turn your words into action,” he voiced.
Since the most recent violence started, the council has not voted on any new motions. However, it did establish an open-ended U.N. Commission of Inquiry in 2021 to investigate abuses on all sides of the conflict.
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