A number of independent UN human rights experts have condemned Israel’s methods in freeing four hostages in the Gaza Strip as “underhanded” and “repulsive”. The 16 experts accused Israel on Friday of arriving at the site of operations in the Nuseirat refugee camp in a humanitarian truck disguised as displaced persons and humanitarian workers. This is prohibited under international law and a war crime.
The operation killed 274 Palestinians and injured nearly 700. Survivors reported seeing corpses and torn body parts, the human rights activists said. While they were happy about the safe return of the four Israeli Hamas hostages, “Israel’s attack on the Nuseirat camp is disgusting in its excessive violence and devastating effects.”
The experts found that the civilian camouflage was insidious. This tactic revealed Israel’s “barbarism” and exposed genuine humanitarian workers to even greater risks in the future. The statement was signed by the UN observers for Palestinian territories, for the right to health and for racism, among others.
The Israeli military has denied allegations that its troops entered the area disguised in humanitarian aid vehicles or via a makeshift aid landing stage off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
