Israel’s decision to halt all fuel, food, water, and electricity deliveries to the Gaza Strip has drawn criticism from the UN.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated on Tuesday in Geneva that it is against international humanitarian law to deny people their basic necessities.
According to international humanitarian law, imposing sieges that deprive populations of supplies necessary for existence puts their lives in danger and is therefore forbidden.
To carry out a siege, any restrictions on the movement of people and goods must be justified by military necessity, otherwise it may be considered collective punishment, said Türk.
In reaction to the massive Hamas attack that claimed over 900 lives nationwide, Israel declared a “complete siege” on the Palestinian territory.
Israeli airstrikes in retaliation have resulted in several hundreds of fatalities in Gaza.