Israel likely to have repeatedly violated laws of war in Gaza: UN rights office

Israeli forces may have violated the laws of war in their campaign in the Gaza Strip, The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Wednesday.

In a report that assessed six Israeli attacks that caused a high number of casualties and destruction of civilian infrastructure, the OHCHR said that Israeli forces "may have systematically violated the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack".

"The requirement to select means and methods of warfare that avoid or at the very least minimise to every extent civilian harm appears to have been consistently violated in Israel's bombing campaign," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.