The UN human rights workplace on Saturday referred to as for an impartial investigation into the drone assault on a Gaza-bound help ship in worldwide waters off Malta and renewed its name for Israel to raise its blockade on Gaza, which it says constitutes “collective punishment.”
“We have seen the worrying reports on the incident. We are unable to independently confirm them. However, it is crucial that there be independent, impartial, and effective investigation by competent authorities into the incident leading to apparent fire on board the vessel and a distress call in international waters, with a view to ensuring accountability,” human rights spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan advised Anadolu in a press release.
The vessel Conscience, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, caught hearth after reportedly being bombed by drones early Friday whereas carrying humanitarian help to Gaza. The Maltese authorities confirmed the hearth was contained with the assistance of a close-by tugboat and that every one 12 crew members and 4 civilians aboard have been protected, though they refused to desert the ship.
The vessel stays in worldwide waters beneath monitoring.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition blamed Israel for the assault, calling for Israeli ambassadors to be summoned over what it described as violations of worldwide regulation, together with the blockade and the bombing of the civilian ship.
Francesca Albanese, the UN particular rapporteur for Palestine, additionally condemned the assault and urged EU leaders to denounce it and demand an pressing investigation.
The Palestinian group Hamas equally accused Israel and appealed to the UN Security Council to behave in opposition to Israeli “violations.”
Al-Kheetan additionally pointed to the deepening humanitarian disaster in Gaza, saying restrictions on motion and the circulate of products have severely affected the inhabitants for greater than 17 years. “It amounts to the collective punishment of Gaza residents,” he mentioned.
He added that situations have worsened not too long ago, with Israel blocking all items from getting into Gaza since March 2, which has solely intensified the already dire state of affairs. “Collective punishment is prohibited by international humanitarian law and amounts to a war crime,” he careworn.
“As the occupying power, Israel has the obligation — under international humanitarian law — to ensure food and medical supplies for the population to the fullest extent of the means available to it, or to agree to and facilitate by all means at its disposal humanitarian relief schemes by other States or impartial humanitarian organizations,” the spokesperson added.
“We call on Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material,” he concluded.
Nearly 52,500 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them ladies and kids.
Source: www.anews.com.tr