The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor has accused Israel of implementing a systematic policy targeting civilians in Gaza, a clear violation of international humanitarian law.

According to a statement released on Tuesday, Israel intensified bombings on shelter centers housing displaced people and targeted humanitarian zones, continuing what the monitor described as a genocide ongoing since October 7, 2023.

The statement highlighted that the Israeli occupation forces have been conducting airstrikes for nearly nine months, targeting civilian areas and United Nations-run shelter centers, actions deemed serious violations of international law. By specifically targeting UNRWA schools serving as shelters, Israel's bombing strategy aims to destabilize the entire Gaza Strip, denying displaced Palestinians even temporary shelter.

The Euro-Med reported four separate Israeli attacks on shelter centers since early Tuesday, June 25, along with the demolition of several homes while occupants were inside. This morning, Israeli airstrikes hit the Abdel Fattah Hammoud School in central Gaza, killing eight members of the Al-Jarro family who were displaced. Another attack on the UNRWA-run "Asmaa C" school in Al-Shati refugee camp claimed the lives of eleven more displaced individuals, including women and children.

The monitor detailed additional recent Israeli military actions in Gaza, noting airstrikes on 12 houses across different areas in the past 24 hours, resulting in numerous casualties, with some still buried under rubble.

Euro-Med emphasized that Israel's targeting of UN-flagged shelter centers and homes of displaced persons, including the killing of entire families, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the principles of distinction, necessity, and proportionality, as well as failure to take precautions to prevent civilian casualties.

The monitor condemned the violence as unjustifiable under legal and moral standards, branding it as part of a deliberate strategy by Israel to inflict severe harm on vulnerable Palestinian civilians, devastating countless lives.

Amidst political and administrative actions aimed at undermining UNRWA's operations in Gaza, the repeated attacks on UN buildings resulting in deaths and destruction were labeled as clear violations of international humanitarian law and war crimes.

According to UNRWA, Israeli forces have bombed more than 190 of its buildings in the past eight months, resulting in over 460 deaths among displaced people, despite providing location coordinates to Israeli authorities and other conflict parties.

The ongoing military attacks in Rafah were highlighted as severe breaches of international humanitarian law, particularly principles of distinction, proportionality, and military necessity.

Euro-Med called on all nations to fulfill their international obligations by imposing strong sanctions on Israel, including halting arms transfers and military aid immediately. Failure to do so, the monitor warned, would render these nations complicit in the crimes committed in Gaza, including what is described as genocide.

Additionally, Euro-Med urged the International Criminal Court to expand its investigation into Israel's actions in Gaza, holding all responsible parties accountable for international crimes and issuing arrest warrants where appropriate. (ILKHA)