UN Condemns Terrorist ‘israeli’ Strikes on Gaza Schools and Cultural Sites as War Crimes
United Nations experts have issued a report cautioning that the extensive destruction of over 90% of educational facilities and more than half of the religious and cultural sites in besieged Gaza by Israeli forces constitutes both war crimes and the crime against humanity referred to as "extermination."
A report released by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory on Thursday stated that Israel has been found to have committed violations by targeting civilians taking refuge at these locations.
The upcoming report set to be presented to the Human Rights Council on June 17 indicates that these actions were executed as part of a “concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life.”
Israel’s operations are being described as a “widespread and relentless assault” on the Palestinian populace, with growing evidence that Israel is engaging in a coordinated effort to dismantle Palestinian life in Gaza, as stated by Commission Chair Navi Pillay.
The report further documented the demolition of ten significant religious and cultural landmarks within the besieged Palestinian region. Investigators confirmed that these sites were predominantly civilian and lacked any discernible military significance.
Pillay stated that assaults on cultural and religious sites have significantly affected intangible cultural heritage, including religious and cultural practices, as well as memories and historical narratives.
According to the report, over 658,000 children in Gaza have been unable to attend school for almost two years, as airstrikes, shelling, and intentional demolitions have severely damaged educational institutions, including schools and universities.
The commission reported that Israeli soldiers were recorded mocking Palestinians and their educational systems prior to the demolition of various institutions. The investigation further revealed that Israeli forces repurposed facilities, such as the campus of Al-Azhar University, converting them into military bases or synagogues.
The report highlights that the damage inflicted on the Palestinian education system extends beyond Gaza, attributing it to heightened Israeli military activities in the occupied West Bank, alongside incidents of student harassment and attacks by settlers in the region.
The commission has reported that Israeli settler violence, military operations, and movement restrictions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem have significantly impacted more than 806,000 Palestinian students.
The statement further alleged that Israel is benefiting economically from cultural heritage sites that have been claimed, while simultaneously restricting access for the Palestinian population.
The commission has urged Israel to cease its occupation, discontinue all attacks and settlement activities, and adhere to international law.
The report emerges amid ongoing military actions by Israeli forces targeting areas within the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza health ministry reports a surge in casualties, with nearly 80 Palestinians losing their lives across the Gaza Strip within the past 24 hours. Additionally, there has been a concerning rise in fatalities resulting from assaults on humanitarian aid distribution centers.
UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini has strongly criticized the assaults on humanitarian centers, describing the prevailing situation as a “death trap” for the residents of Gaza.
The genocide in Gaza has resulted in a tragic loss of life, with the death toll approaching 55,000, predominantly affecting women and children.
