Beyza Binnur Donmez
18 March 2025•Update: 18 March 2025
GENEVA
The head of the UN human rights office in the occupied Palestinian territories on Tuesday criticized the new set of Israeli military's displacement orders, calling them "unacceptable."
Speaking during a UN press briefing, Ajith Sunghay said: "Israeli military had issued displacement orders from several parts of Gaza, indicating a return to a pattern that had previously led to the displacement of 90% of the Palestinian population in the region, often multiple times."
"It is unacceptable, even unimaginable, to once again find ourselves talking about this instead of supporting a path towards meaningful recovery and sustainable peace," Sunghay said.
The displacement orders come amid a new wave of devastating Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds of Palestinians, including many women and children.
The Israeli army early Tuesday ordered Palestinian civilians in the town of Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, as well as Khuza’a and Abasan in the south, to immediately leave their areas, calling these areas "dangerous combat zones."
He also expressed grave concerns about the blockade of Gaza, which has prevented the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, and other essential supplies for over two weeks. This, combined with the threat of cutting off water supplies, has raised fears of a looming humanitarian crisis, he added.
"Once again, we remind Israel of its obligation to comply with international humanitarian laws, fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution in its attack; any targeting of civilians not directly participating in hostilities is a war crime and must stop immediately," he said.
"Blocking aid from reaching civilians is a collective punishment, and must stop immediately. And the use of starvation as a weapon of war is a crime under international law."
"Simply this violence and the killing must stop immediately," he urged, calling for the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained.
The Israeli army pounded the Gaza Strip early Tuesday, killing more than 400 Palestinians and injuring hundreds of others, breaking a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas that took effect on Jan. 19.
Images from Gaza showed that the majority of the victims were civilians, including women and children, whose homes were bombed during the night.
More than 48,500 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 112,000 others injured in a brutal Israeli military campaign in Gaza since October 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
