Israel’s reported attempt to create a “buffer zone” with Gaza
could constitute a war crime, UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Volker Türk warned on Thursday.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are reportedly destroying all
buildings in the Gaza Strip that are within a kilometre of the
Israel-Gaza fence and “clearing the area” to achieve this
objective, he said in a statement.
Mr. Türk stressed to the Israeli authorities that the Fourth
Geneva Convention prohibits the Occupying Power from destroying
property belonging to private persons except where absolutely
necessary by military operations.
Unlawful and wanton destruction
“Destructions carried out to create a ‘buffer zone’ for general
security purposes do not appear consistent with the narrow
‘military operations’ exception set out in international
humanitarian law,” he said.
“Further, extensive destruction of property, not justified by
military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly,
amounts to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and a
war crime.”
Since late October, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, has recorded
widespread destruction by the IDF of civilian and other
infrastructure such as residential buildings, schools, and
universities in areas where fighting is not or no longer taking
place.
Impact on returns
Demolitions have also occurred in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza,
As Shujaiyeh in Gaza City, and at An Nuseirat Camp in Middle
Gaza, among other areas, with reports of the destruction of many
residential buildings and blocks in Khan Younis in the south in
recent weeks.
“Israel has not provided cogent reasons for such extensive
destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Mr. Turk said.
He said the destruction “appears to be aimed at or has the effect
of rendering the return of civilians to these areas impossible,”
adding that the forcible transfer of civilians may constitute a
war crime.
