GENEVA

The UN refugee agency on Wednesday described reports about Israel recruiting African asylum seekers for its military operation in the Gaza Strip as "very concerning, if true."

UNHCR's Middle East and North Africa (MENA) spokesperson Rula Amin said the agency is aware of the reports and is looking into it but cannot yet confirm.

"In principle, recruitment of asylum seekers for military or other risky activities in exchange for better status is a practice UNHCR finds very concerning, if true," Amin said in response to Anadolu's question about the reports.

Underlining that asylum-seekers and refugees must be protected from persecution and violence, she said they are entitled to rights in the country of asylum based on their legal status.

"Military conscription of refugees by a host state is inconsistent with host countries primary responsibility to ensure the security and protection of refugees," she added.

Israel is luring 30,000 asylum seekers from Africa with the promise of permanent residency if they join the armed forces in its offensive against Palestinians in Gaza, the Haaretz newspaper said Sunday, adding that it could endanger their lives as the majority came to work in agriculture fields.

Israel has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, in Gaza since a cross-border attack by Hamas last October that claimed 1,139 people with another 250 taken as hostages.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, the Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.