UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk on Tuesday appealed to global leaders to take proactive measures in preventing the destruction of critical life-saving support in Gaza. The deadly wave of Israeli attacks that continues to take the lives of innocent civilians, many residing in temporary shelters, and health facilities have posed an obstacle for outside aid to be channeled into Gaza. He warned that food stocks are rapidly depleting, and the consequent starvation of the civilian population to gain leverage over the opposing force is a war crime.
High-ranking Israel officials such as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvi, and Energy Minister Israel Katz have all made public statements expressing their intent to deprive Palestinians of essentials necessary to their survival—a deliberate move to subject the civilian population to “collective punishment.”
The prohibition of starvation as a war tactic is enshrined under Article 54 of the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions I—the protocol that builds upon the 1949 Geneva Convention that affords further protection to civilians in cases of international armed conflict.
Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on shelters in Gaza have increased in frequency causing widespread alarm, with the UN Human Rights Office recording 259 attacks on residential buildings and 99 on internally displaced people within the time frame of one month. Although Gaza’s Ministry of Health has reported that nearly 47,000 Palestinians were killed between October 7, 2023 and January 19, 2025 as a direct result of the hostilities, the actual death toll has been projected to be even higher. These statistical data do not include deaths from severe malnutrition and dehydration.
Calling intentional and direct attacks against civilians not participating in the hostilities a war crime, Türk added that “These incidents reflect the pattern we have seen during this escalation, of attacks that raise grave concerns of violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions.” Türk called for each of these incidents to be fully investigated.
Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued provisional measures last year ordering Israel to take “immediate and effective measures” to prevent acts contrary to the 1948 Genocide Convention, including ensuring sufficient humanitarian assistance, Israel has so far allegedly defied the ruling by continuing to block assistance.
