UN “shocked” by civilian death toll from Israeli hostage release operation

The United Nations human rights office said acts committed by both Israelis and Palestinians “may constitute war crimes.”

“We are deeply shocked by the impact on civilians of the operation by Israeli forces in An Nuseirat this weekend to secure the release of four hostages,” spokesman Jeremy Laurence told reporters in Geneva.

The UN, he added, is also “deeply distressed that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold numerous hostages, most of them civilians.”

Israeli forces stormed the Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday to free four Israeli hostages.

Almog Meir Jan, Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv were kidnapped on October 7 during the Nova festival in southern Israel.

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said at least 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 injured during the operation.

“Hundreds of Palestinians, including many civilians, are believed to have been killed and injured,” Laurence said.

“The manner in which the raid was carried out, in such a densely populated area, seriously calls into question the Israeli forces’ respect for the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution, as set out in the laws of war. “

Asked about the figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, he said that before October 7, when there were more possibilities for verification, the UN had always found that “the figures they give us are…very close to being 100 percent accurate.” .

The U.N. human rights office has had limited access to verify the figures since the war began, but Laurence said he still has contacts on the ground “who are reliable.”

Lives put in danger

Asked about hostages being held in Gaza, Laurence replied that this was also “prohibited by international law”.

“Moreover, by holding hostages in such densely populated areas, armed groups are putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, in additional danger from the hostilities,” he said.

Asked about reports that hostages had been held in civilian locations, he said this should not happen “to the extent that they could be… used as human shields.”

“This in itself constitutes a serious violation.”

The war in Gaza began after Hamas fighters launched an attack on Israel on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. .

They captured 251 hostages, more than 100 of whom were freed during a November truce.

Israel’s relentless bombing and ground offensive in Gaza have killed at least 37,124 people, mostly civilians, according to the health minister of the besieged Palestinian territory.