HAMILTON, Canada

The UN expressed deep concern Tuesday over Israel’s military tactics in Gaza, warning that the ongoing attacks may represent "systematic violations" of international humanitarian law.

"The pattern of strikes indicate that the Israeli Defense Forces have systematically violated fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, distinction, proportionality and precaution in attack," Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris told a UN Security Council session on Palestine.

"Israel's conduct of hostilities has destroyed Gaza's civilian infrastructure, including places that have protected status under international law -- hospitals, schools and vital services, including electricity, water and sewage," she added, warning that this destruction directly contributes to the growing famine risk in Gaza.

Kehris underscored Israel's responsibilities as the occupying power under international law, saying it is required "to protect Palestinian civilians and provide them with supplies essential to survival."

Citing the latest report from the UN’s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in which it indicated that famine is likely imminent, she stressed that "this horrific possibility cannot be separated from the unrelenting attacks on the human rights of civilians there."

Over the past month, Israeli army operations in northern Gaza have led to severe civilian casualties, Kehris noted, with reports indicating that women, children, the elderly and sick and disabled persons are particularly impacted and often trapped by Israeli army restrictions and strikes on escape routes.

She further noted that international law strictly prohibits the use of starvation as a method of warfare and emphasized the urgent need to safeguard civilian lives in Gaza.

"The manner in which the Israeli military is conducting operations in northern Gaza suggests not only that Israel’s actions are seeking to empty northern Gaza of Palestinians by displacing survivors to the south but points to further grave risks of atrocities of the most serious nature," she said.

Rein Paulsen, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director of emergencies and resilience, highlighted the severe food insecurity in Gaza, describing how the conflict has caused the collapse of local agricultural and food systems.

"Agri-food systems have collapsed in the Gaza Strip. Local food production has been decimated," he said, noting that recent geospatial analyses reveal that 70% of Gaza’s cropland has been destroyed or damaged.

"Animal production has been devastated, with almost 95% of cattle and more than half of sheep and goat herds now dead," he added.

Stressing that access to food is a basic human right, Paulsen said this genocide marks the fifth time in a year that the IPC Famine Review Committee has convened to assess Gaza’s deteriorating food security.

"We can and must save lives. This is a humanitarian imperative, and it is our moral responsibility," he said.

Paulsen further called for urgent international intervention, including a cease-fire, to ensure humanitarian access and to address the root causes of Gaza’s food insecurity, emphasizing "the window of opportunity to deliver this assistance is now, today, not tomorrow."