Israel's restrictions to Gaza aid may be war crime, says UN rights office | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
July 23, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2025
Israel's restrictions to Gaza aid may be war crime, says UN rights office

Hamas-Israel war

Reuters
19 March, 2024, 08:05 pm
Last modified: 19 March, 2024, 08:12 pm

Related News

  • Israel accused of enforcing aid 'siege' as 10 more die of starvation in Gaza
  • More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza
  • AFP appeals for evacuation of freelance staff from Gaza
  • Trump envoy Witkoff to travel to Europe and discuss Gaza: US official
  • 15 Palestinians die of starvation in Gaza's deepening hunger crisis, medics say

Israel's restrictions to Gaza aid may be war crime, says UN rights office

Reuters
19 March, 2024, 08:05 pm
Last modified: 19 March, 2024, 08:12 pm
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians carry bags of flour they grabbed from an aid truck near an Israeli checkpoint, as Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kosay Al Nemer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Palestinians carry bags of flour they grabbed from an aid truck near an Israeli checkpoint, as Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City, February 19, 2024. REUTERS/Kosay Al Nemer/File Photo

Israel's restrictions on humanitarian aid for Gaza may amount to a starvation tactic that could be a war crime, the United Nations human rights chief said on Tuesday.

The stark appraisal followed a UN-backed report on Monday saying famine is likely by May without an end to fighting in the more than five-month war between Israel and Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave of 2.3 million people.

"The extent of Israel's continued restrictions on entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime," said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

While aid agencies blame Israel for blockading Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government says it is facilitating aid and the United Nations and relief groups are at fault for any issues over the quantity and pace of delivery.

In response to Turk's statement, the Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva said: "Israel is doing everything it can to flood Gaza with aid, including by land air and sea. The UN must also step up."

As the occupying power in Gaza, Israel is obligated to ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population and to facilitate the work of humanitarian organisations trying to deliver aid, Turk said in his statement.

Monday's report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said malnutrition and food insecurity have probably exceeded famine levels in Gaza's north, and hunger-linked death rates were likely to reach famine levels soon.

"The coping mechanisms we have seen the past weeks, even months, are people eating bird seeds, animal fodder, wild grass, and weeds," said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office (OCHA).

"They have consumed that already. We are beyond that. There's literally nothing left."

Turk said the crisis was "human-made" and urged all states to put pressure on Israel to facilitate the delivery of aid into Gaza.

"There needs to be full restoration of essential services, including the supply of food, water, electricity and fuel," Turk said.

Top News / World+Biz / Middle East

United Nations / Israel-Hamas / Gaza / war crime

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus held a meeting with leaders of 13 political parties at the state guest house Jamuna today (23 July). Photo: Focus Bangla
    13 political parties urge CA to announce specific election date
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    1,200 sued over attacks, vandalism during student protest at Secretariat
  • The meeting is being held at the chief adviser’s official residence Jamuna. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Signs of conspiracies by defeated forces becoming visible: CA Yunus

MOST VIEWED

  • Screengrab/Video collected from Facebook
    CCTV footage shows how Air Force jet nosedived after technical malfunction
  • Photo: Collected
    Bangladeshi man jailed for life in UK for murdering wife in front of their baby
  • Why Bangladesh's capital market is poised for a bull run
    Why Bangladesh's capital market is poised for a bull run
  • ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
    ISPR clarifies crashed plane was battle aircraft, not training jet
  • Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain/TBS
    Secretariat protest: 75 injured in police-protester clash over edu adviser's resignation for delaying HSC rescheduling
  • Exim Bank's former chairman Nazrul Islam Majumder being taken to court on 22 July 2025. Photo: Collected
    Will repay all money if granted bail, won’t run away, ex-Exim Bank chair Nazrul tells court

Related News

  • Israel accused of enforcing aid 'siege' as 10 more die of starvation in Gaza
  • More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza
  • AFP appeals for evacuation of freelance staff from Gaza
  • Trump envoy Witkoff to travel to Europe and discuss Gaza: US official
  • 15 Palestinians die of starvation in Gaza's deepening hunger crisis, medics say

Features

Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

Aggrieved nation left with questions as citizens rally to help at burn institute

1d | Panorama
Photo: TBS

Mourning turns into outrage as Milestone students seek truth and justice

1d | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Uttara, Jatrabari, Savar and more: The killing fields that ran red with July martyrs’ blood

1d | Panorama
Despite all the adversities, girls from the hill districts are consistently pushing the boundaries to earn repute and make the nation proud. Photos: TBS

Ghagra: Where dreams rise from dust for Bangladesh women's football

3d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Bangladesh and Pakistan unite to fight drugs

Bangladesh and Pakistan unite to fight drugs

27m | TBS Today
Case Study of Milestone Tragedy

Case Study of Milestone Tragedy

1h | TBS Today
Milestone students demand accurate information about the deceased to be released

Milestone students demand accurate information about the deceased to be released

1h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 23 JULY 2025

News of The Day, 23 JULY 2025

2h | TBS News of the day
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net