UN Demands Full Gaza Access for War Crimes Probe

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has officially demanded full access for international investigators to all areas of the Gaza Strip. This call follows the ongoing large-scale recovery of bodies from under rubble, reportedly predominantly women and children. Türk stated that the discovery of hundreds of remains suggests a high probability of war crimes being committed.

The UN also expressed concern over Israel's blocking of heavy machinery from entering Gaza, arguing that its absence hinders the safe clearing of destroyed buildings and the preservation of forensic evidence. Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, vehemently denied these claims, calling the report "detached from reality" and "serving Hamas's interests."

Israeli representatives have consistently maintained that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operate strictly within the bounds of self-defense and international humanitarian law, denying any intentional attacks against civilians. Israel places responsibility for destruction and civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the group of using civilian infrastructure like hospitals and schools as human shields and military bases.

Israeli officials pointed to what they described as a "systematic obsession" by various UN agencies to target Israel, with Danon specifically stating that the UN ignores Hamas's crimes against Israelis and exhibits an openly anti-Israel stance. Regarding restrictions on heavy excavators and DNA testing kits, the Israeli agency COGAT stated that limitations apply only to dual-use items that could be exploited by terrorist groups to rebuild military infrastructure.