UN Accuses Israel Of Possible ‘War Crimes’ Over Hostage Rescue Operation

The United Nations condemned Israel on Tuesday over a rescue operation that saved four hostages from Hamas over the weekend.

The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement that suggested Israel may have committed war crimes during the operation. At least some civilians were killed, though the total number is unknown, after Israeli commandos’ cover was blown and fighting broke out during the rescue.

“We are profoundly shocked at the impact on civilians of the Israeli forces’ operation in An Nuseirat at the weekend to secure the release of four hostages. Hundreds of Palestinians, many of them civilians, were reportedly killed and injured,” spokesman Jeremy Laurence said in a statement, referencing fatality stats put out by Hamas-controlled groups. The Associated Press recently found that Hamas’ civilian death data has been unreliable.

“The manner in which the raid was conducted in such a densely populated area seriously calls into question whether the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution – as set out under the laws of war – were respected by the Israeli forces,” Laurence said.

“Our Office is also deeply distressed that Palestinian armed groups continue to hold many hostages, most of them civilians, which is prohibited by international humanitarian law. Furthermore, by holding hostages in such densely populated areas, the armed groups doing so are putting the lives of Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages themselves, at added risk from the hostilities,” the spokesman added. “All these actions, by both parties, may amount to war crimes.”

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Two Israeli commando teams infiltrated Nuseirat, an area still controlled by Hamas in Gaza. The commandos were conducting a rescue operation to free four hostages, one woman and three men, who were being held in two apartments in the city, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The commando units pulled off the raid around midday on Saturday, successfully getting undetected to the doors of the apartments where the hostages were held. In freeing the hostages, the commando units’ cover was blown, starting a firefight between Israeli forces and Hamas terrorists in the area. Civilians were reportedly killed in the crossfire.

All four hostages – Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrei Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv – were evacuated safely after being held by Hamas and its Palestinian allies for months since October 7. An Israeli commando squad leader, Arnon Zamora, was killed during the operation.