Israel’s use of force on Gaza protesters ‘may be war crime’

Group calls on UN to ‘impose real costs for such blatant disregard for Palestinian lives’

Human Rights Watch alleges that the Israeli regime’s use of lethal force against Palestinian demonstrators in the Gaza Strip in recent weeks may constitute war crimes.

The statement was issued yesterday ahead of an emergency UN General Assembly meeting to vote on a resolution condemning Israeli occupation troops’ use of force.

Palestinians have held near weekly protests since March 30, calling for a “right of return” to ancestral homes now in Israel.

At least 129 Palestinians have been killed and over 3,800 wounded by Israeli regime fire in protests along the border.

The organisation called on the international community to “impose real costs for such blatant disregard for Palestinian lives.”

The United Nations General Assembly was to vote later yesterday on condemning the Israeli regime for Palestinian deaths in Gaza in a resolution fiercely opposed by the United States, which wants Hamas to face condemnation.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley slammed the Arab-backed measure as “fundamentally imbalanced” for its failure to mention Hamas and has proposed an amendment that condemns the Palestinian group.

“Any resolution focused on the protection of civilians in Gaza must recognise the destabilising and reckless actions of Hamas, which endanger the lives and livelihoods of innocent civilians,” Haley wrote in a letter sent to fellow ambassadors on the eve of the vote.

The administration of US president Donald Trump is considered to be the most pro-Israeli administration to date.

Haley has repeatedly defeneded Israel at the United Nations and shielded it from any international scrutiny over its crimes.

The Arab-drafted text condemns Israel’s use of “excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force” against Palestinian civilians and calls for protection measures for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The 193-nation assembly will vote first on the US-drafted amendment condemning Hamas for “inciting violence” along the border with Gaza before the vote on the resolution.

Diplomats expect the US amendment to fail and the Arab-backed resolution to be adopted, but it remains unclear how many votes it will garner in the face of strong US opposition.

Arab countries backing the measure turned to the General Assembly after the United States used its veto in the Security Council to block the resolution on June 1.

The text was put forward by Algeria and Turkey on behalf of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

AP Palestinians demand lifting of sanctions on Gaza Strip during a protest in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday.

AP Mourners carry the body of Haitham Al Jamal, 15, during his funeral in Rafah refugee camp, Gaza Strip, on Saturday. Jamal was shot by Israeli occupation troops during protests.