UN Rights Chief Warns of War Crimes in Gaza

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for international investigators to be granted access to all parts of Gaza to gather evidence of potential war crimes and atrocity crimes. The demand follows the recovery of hundreds of bodies, primarily women and children, from residential sites pulverized by Israeli attacks. Turk warned that the discovery of entire families under the rubble resurfaces grave concerns regarding compliance with the rules of hostilities.

Since November 2025, the Palestinian Civil Defence has recovered between 630 and 800 bodies. Palestinian authorities estimate that more than 8,000 people remain missing under approximately 61 million tons of debris. Turk specifically cited the use of 2,000-pound bombs in densely populated areas as a failure to distinguish between civilians and combatants. He further accused the Israeli military of continuing to level areas with bulldozers with "no respect for the dead under the rubble," potentially destroying or concealing forensic evidence.

Israel has rejected allegations of deliberately targeting civilians, asserting its military acts in accordance with international law and claiming that Hamas uses civilians as human shields. UN officials noted that recovery efforts are severely hindered by Israeli restrictions on DNA kits and heavy machinery, forcing some teams to dig with their bare hands. While a U.S.-brokered ceasefire ended full-scale fighting in October 2025, regular strikes, including sniper and drone attacks in Jabalia and Gaza City, continue to cause casualties.