UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza

The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) issued a report on Friday, asserting that there must be "due reckoning" for the horrific violations and potential atrocity crimes occurring in the Gaza Strip.

Spanning the period from November 2023 to April 2024, the report provides a detailed examination of unlawful acts, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and other serious breaches of international humanitarian law. It indicates that many of these actions may constitute war crimes, highlighting the urgent need for a comprehensive response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized that Israel must fully and immediately fulfill its international obligations to prevent, protect against and punish acts of genocide and associated prohibited conduct.

The report reveals that nearly 70 percent of those killed in Gaza due to hostilities, including airstrikes, were women and children, and approximately 80 percent of fatalities occurred in residential buildings or similar structures.

It calls for further investigation and full accountability into all violations and alleged violations in accordance with international law.

"It is essential that there is due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial bodies and that, in the meantime, all relevant information and evidence are collected and preserved," Türk said.

Türk also called on UN member states to reassess military sales and support to the parties involved in the conflict, particularly when such assistance carries a significant risk of serious violations of international law.

"The violence must stop immediately, the hostages and those arbitrarily detained must be released, and we must focus on flooding Gaza with humanitarian aid," he said.

Israel's unrelenting attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed 43,508 Palestinians and injured 102,684 others over the past 13 months since October 7, 2023, according to the enclave's health authorities on Friday.

UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza

UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza

UN Human Rights office demands accountability for violations, atrocity in Gaza

U.S. military forces continue to enforce "U.S. sanctions and fully implement the blockade against ships entering or departing Iranian ports", U.S. Central Command said on social media Saturday.

In a post on X, the U.S. Central Command said that 37 vessels have been redirected since the start of the blockade, noting a merchant vessel named Sevan, intercepted in the Arabian Sea earlier Saturday by the U.S. forces, is currently "complying with U.S. military direction to turn back to Iran under escort".

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the U.S. Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. His decision came after the first round of U.S.-Iranian talks on April 11 and 12 in Islamabad, Pakistan, failed to produce a peace deal.

In response to Trump's announcement, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that "any threat against the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have large-scale consequences for global trade".

On Saturday, Iran's main military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, reiterated its pledge to react if the United States continues its "blockade, banditry and piracy" in the West Asia region. Trump announced earlier Saturday that he has canceled the trip of U.S. representatives going to Islamabad this weekend for talks with the Iranian side.

US military says blockade against Iran to be continuously "fully implemented"