The UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) has chosen not to categorize the events in Gaza as genocide. OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani stated during a briefing in Geneva that the classification of these crimes should be determined by a court following an impartial investigation.
When asked by reporters whether the events in Gaza could be categorized as genocide, she acknowledged, "I'm aware of allegations that also contain a legal qualification of what is currently occurring in Gaza."
The OHCHR is expressing concern that actions potentially constituting war crimes may have been carried out by various parties involved in the conflict. The spokesperson emphasized their apprehension regarding the collective punishment inflicted on Gazans as a response to the brutal attacks by Hamas, actions that could also be considered war crimes. However, the spokesperson clarified that their current analysis doesn't allow for further categorization of these actions as war crimes. Such categorization would need to be determined by a court of law through an independent legal process, as per Shamdasani's statement.
The OHCHR considers the situation in Gaza to be a humanitarian catastrophe affecting 2.2 million individuals who are experiencing collective punishment. This form of collective punishment is categorized as a war crime, and the OHCHR urges an immediate halt to Israel's imposition of such measures on the entire population of Gaza.
Furthermore, the OHCHR calls for an end to indiscriminate attacks carried out by Palestinian armed groups. They emphasize the unconditional release of all civilians, as taking hostages is also classified as a war crime, as noted by Shamdasani.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS