UN investigators say there is evidence pointing to grave, systematic human rights violations by Israeli security forces who killed 189 Palestinian demonstrators and injured 9,204 in 2018 during massive protests at the Gaza Strip border.
A UN Commission of Inquiry consisting of independent human rights experts in Geneva said on Thursday that the targeting of unarmed, non-violent protesters “may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.”
The commission acknowledged that some demonstrators were members of armed groups.
noted that the protest organisers, who included militants from the Hamas movement, encouraged the use of incendiary kites and balloons, causing damage and fear in southern Israel.
However, the commission report disputed Israel’s stance that the weeks of protests at the fence between Gaza and Israel that started in March 2018 were a guise for terrorist activities.
It however concluded that the nature of the demonstrations was civilian.
dpa/NAN
