At least 17 schools were affected, according to the office.raises serious concerns about compliance with the principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including discrimination, proportionality and precaution.
OHCHR also indicated an escalation in such attacks. Since last Monday, at least seven schools have been targeted – all reportedly sheltering internally displaced persons (IDPs), while one was also being used as a field hospital.
Israel’s Obligations
The Israeli military claimed that the five schools were being used by “Hamas militants”.
OHCHR stressed that if this were the case, the use of civilians by armed groups to protect military objectives would also be a serious violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
“[However,] It does not deny Israel’s obligation to strictly comply with international humanitarian law.including the principles of proportionality, differentiation and precaution when conducting military operations,” the office said.
“Israel, as the occupying force, also has an obligation to provide the displaced population with basic humanitarian needs.including safe haven.”
A man carries water through the streets of a West Bank town. The situation there is getting worse.
Murder in the West Bank
OHCHR also voiced deep concern over the continued use of lethal force by the Israeli Security Forces (ISF) in the West Bank, amid reports that nine Palestinians were killed on 3 August, including five who “appeared to have been scheduled for extrajudicial executions”.
The ISF claimed that five of those killed were on their way to carry out a “terrorist attack”. On the same day, four Palestinian armed men were involved in a gunfight with the ISF and were killed in an Israeli airstrike.
OHCHR also noted that on 4 August, a Palestinian man from Salfit in the occupied West Bank allegedly stabbed and killed two Israelis and injured two others in Holon, Tel Aviv, after illegally crossing into Israel. ISF reportedly shot and killed the attacker.
Rights experts warn of regional escalation
Meanwhile, an independent group of human rights experts on Tuesday condemns the growing violence in the wider Middle East region.
They highlighted a rocket attack on a village in the Israeli-occupied Golan that killed 12 children. Israel said Hezbollah was responsible, but the militant group based in southern Lebanon denied the attack.
Experts also cited Israel’s alleged killing of a Hezbollah commander south of Beirut and the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ political leader, in Tehran.
“We are deeply concerned about these killings, as they violate the human right to life and risk escalating violence and displacement in the region,” they said in a press release.
Call for independent investigation
The Dong Nhan Quy Association-The appointed experts added that these incidents underscore the need for full, independent and impartial investigations, including access to all relevant evidence and full cooperation from the relevant States.
They also called for Security Council to exercise its responsibility to respond effectively to all actors in the region whose actions threaten international peace and security.
The killing of journalists is condemned.
In a separate report, the independent human rights expert on freedom of opinion and expression, Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, condemns the murder of Al Jazeera journalist Ismail Al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami Al-Rifi in Gaza on August 1.
Israel’s deliberate targeting “adds to the number of journalists and media workers killed in this war,” she said.
Mr Al-Ghoul was wearing a clearly marked press jacket when an Israeli drone struck a vehicle. The Israeli military confirmed Mr Al-Ghoul’s death, accusing him of being a “Hamas agent”.
“The Israeli military appears to be making accusations without any substantive evidence as a license to kill journalists, in complete violation of international humanitarian law,” Ms Khan stressed.
She added that she was dismayed by attacks on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera media network, including the targeted killing of its journalists in Gaza, a complete ban on the channel in Israel and what she called a brutal smear campaign against the station.
Independent human rights experts
Appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council, independent human rights experts include Special Rapporteurs, Independent Experts, Working Groups and Committees.
They are tasked with assessing, monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation in specific thematic areas or country situations.
Experts serve in their individual capacities, independently of the United Nations system and national governments. They are not United Nations staff and receive no salary.
