21 Nov 2023

Israel-Gaza: War crimes committed on both sides - UN expert

From Morning Report, 8:19 am on 21 November 2023

A UN expert says war crimes have been committed by both Israel and Hamas fighters and he is reiterating calls for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict.

Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, was among a group of signatories who released a statement last week warning the situation in Gaza was "spiraling towards a genocide".

The bombardment and siege of Gaza has reportedly killed over 11,000 people, injured more than 27,000 and displaced more than 1.6 million since October 7 - when Hamas fighters killed more than 1200 Israelis, and took more than 200 hostage.

Mr Saul says the latest statement comes following a month of aid blockades into Gaza - which he says amounts to a war crime of intentionally starving people.