All articles tagged with #un human rights
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on UN human rights official Francesca Albanese for allegedly targeting U.S. and Israeli nationals for prosecution related to her criticism of Israel's military operations in Gaza, including calls for ICC investigations into war profiteering.
The U.N. Human Rights Office has accused Israel of systematically violating the laws of war in Gaza, citing heavy bombings on civilian infrastructure and verifying 218 deaths in six attacks. Navi Pillay, chair of a separate U.N. inquiry, testified that Israeli authorities are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity, while also accusing Hamas and Islamic Jihad of war crimes. The findings are being shared with the International Criminal Court as the death toll in Gaza surpasses 37,400.
The UN Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, condemned the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, stating that the strikes hit residential buildings and schools, which is illegal under international law. Turk also criticized the "horrifying mass killings" by Palestinian armed groups and the militants' abduction of hostages, both of which are forbidden under international law. The Israeli military has called up 300,000 reservists and imposed a total blockade on Gaza, potentially signaling a ground assault in response to the recent attacks by Hamas gunmen. The airstrikes have also hit UN relief agency premises, resulting in civilian casualties. The UN has expressed concern over the supply cuts and depletion of medical supplies in Gaza, warning of a worsening humanitarian situation. A UN-appointed Commission of Inquiry has found evidence of potential war crimes committed by all sides in the conflict.
Kenya has deployed a delegation of senior police officers to Haiti on a reconnaissance mission to assist the Haitian national police in their fight against escalating gang violence. The move comes after the United Nations denounced the extreme brutality of gangs in Haiti, with thousands of people fleeing their neighborhoods due to the surge in violence. With a high number of casualties and kidnappings reported, Kenya has offered to lead an international effort to support Haiti's understaffed and under-resourced police department, which has been unable to control the rampant gang violence that has taken over much of the capital.