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The United Nations has condemned the new killings and extrajudicial executions in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces and Hamas, urging restraint on both sides.
The UN noted that the increasing deaths since the signing of the much-awaited peace deal contradict the aspiration of Palestinians seeking a new phase of life.
In a statement on Wednesday, Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher told Israel and Hamas to honor their pact and stop further attacks on civilians.
“The people across the region want this peace to take hold,” Fletcher said. “We must not fail to see through in full the implementation of the agreements made.”
Warning that renewed setbacks might undermine the fragile progress, Fletcher pressed Hamas to return all deceased hostages’ bodies, and implored Israel to allow every humanitarian aid.
Video footage released on Monday by the Sahm Unit, reportedly affiliated with Gaza’s Interior Ministry, showed the execution of eight blindfolded and handcuffed men from the same family.
On Tuesday, Israeli service members opened fire and killed three Palestinians as they attempted to return to their homes in Ash Shuja’iya in eastern Gaza City.
On the same day, the Israeli military announced that its forces shot and killed individuals in northern Gaza for crossing “the withdrawal line” after shunning warnings.
The UN enjoined Hamas to comply with human rights standards, particularly the limitations on the use of lethal force in the context of law enforcement and the prohibition of summary execution.
The world body stressed that capital punishments without a judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court, which offers all judicial guarantees, amount to a war crime.
The UN also insists the IDF is bound by humanitarian law, emphasizing that the targeting of civilians not directly participating in hostilities “constitutes a war crime, regardless of the location.”
The Israeli military — which still controls parts of Gaza, Rafah, Khan Younis, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun — was asked ensure its rules of engagement prevent further unlawful killings.
