News - Middle East: The UN Human Rights Commission has confirmed that Palestinians in Gaza are facing an inhuman choice between starving to death or being killed while searching for food. It emphasized that the killing and injuring of civilians constitutes a war crime requiring prompt, impartial investigation and accountability for those responsible.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated on Tuesday that “using food as a weapon against civilians in Gaza constitutes a war crime.”

The office’s spokesperson, Thameen Al-Kheetan, told journalists in Geneva that desperate and starving residents of Gaza continue to face the inhuman choice of starvation or being shot while attempting to access food—referring to a series of deadly shootings near aid distribution points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Al-Kheetan added that “using food as a weapon against civilians, along with restricting or preventing access to essential life services, constitutes a full-fledged war crime,” and under certain conditions, “may also amount to other crimes under international law.”

Since the start of the aggression on October 7, 2023, Gaza’s civilian infrastructure has been devastated, with hospitals, schools, and refugee camps repeatedly targeted. 

The humanitarian situation has further deteriorated following the launch of US-backed aid distribution points on May 27, which have drawn widespread condemnation for turning essential aid into a tool of control. 

These centers have become scenes of deadly violence, where desperate civilians have been met with live fire while seeking food. 

International organizations, including the United Nations, have warned of famine, mass displacement, and a collapse of health services, as Israeli enemy’s siege and bombardment continue unabated.