In a sobering announcement, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) labeled the recent deaths of Palestinians at food distribution points in Gaza as possible war crimes. The stark statement came in light of findings that Israel's blockade on Gaza has severely restricted access to food and other vital supplies, creating a crisis of "weaponized hunger."

Jonathan Whittall, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza and the West Bank, reported the deaths of over 400 individuals attempting to access aid hubs. According to Whittall, these incidents involved Israeli forces firing on crowds trying to gather food, a clear contradiction to international standards of aid distribution. "Israel has clear responsibilities as an occupying power," Whittall asserted, "This is not what fulfilling those responsibilities looks like."

The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Israel is a signatory, outlines the obligations of an occupying power, including the provision of food and medical supplies to occupied territories. Despite these guidelines, the UN and other humanitarian bodies face significant hurdles in delivering aid, with Israel approving only a limited number of operations.

The situation is further complicated by the operations of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which, despite being backed by Israel and the US, has been criticized by the UN for not adhering to standards of humanitarian impartiality. The GHF's activities have also been marred by violence, including the killing and torture of its staff, allegedly by Hamas affiliates, acts also deemed as potential war crimes by the OHCHR.

This crisis unfolds nearly a month after the GHF began its operations in Gaza, attempting to coordinate aid independently of established organizations like the Red Cross. The OHCHR has condemned both the blockade that has precipitated this dire humanitarian situation and the violent incidents at aid distribution points, highlighting a grim scenario of human rights violations and escalating violence in the region.

The international community watches closely as these events continue to unfold, with calls increasing for adherence to international law and the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.