With Hamas and Israel ignoring international calls for a cease-fire, the top human rights official with the United Nations called for an investigation into war crimes in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military pushed deeper into the Hama-held Gaza Strip Sunday in the 16th day of assaults on the tiny Palestinian enclave. Khaled Meshaal, the exiled Hamas leader, blamed Israel for launching a “holocaust” against the people of the Gaza Strip and said a cease-fire would only be reached if Israel held its fire.
The violence comes as members of the international community rallied for an end to the conflict. The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution Friday in that regard.
Navi Pilly, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concerns over the humanitarian impact on the Israeli offensive, suggesting Israel had acted indiscriminately on several occasions, the AP reported.
“I am concerned with violations of international law,” she said.
The Palestinian death toll from the fighting passed 840 Saturday. There have been three civilian casualties on the Israeli side and 10 military deaths, though seven of those were from friendly fire.
