UN rapporteurs describe the siege of Gaza as a continuing

UN rapporteurs describe the siege of Gaza as a continuing genocide

A group of eight independent United Nations experts viewed Israel's aggression in the Gaza Strip as an atrocity long-standing under the occupation and blockade.

After more than a hundred days of total siege, the crisis is deepening as part of a continuous process, they added, stressing the need for a ceasefire.

The residents of the Gaza Strip represent 80 percent of the world's population facing famine or catastrophic famine, while the Israeli Defense Forces are constantly bombarded and have no access.

According to the statement, all residents of the enclave are starving and desperate for food and clean water, while pregnant women are not receiving the care and nutrition they need, and children under five are at risk of severe malnutrition and wasting.

The total siege, which began in October, leaves 2.3 million Palestinians without water, food, fuel, medicine and medical supplies after 17 years of Israeli blockade that had already left half of Gaza's population in a situation of insecurity There is a lack of relief supplies. Recalling that it was unprecedented to subject an entire civilian population to starvation so quickly, the rapporteurs said that Israel is destroying the food system in the Gaza Strip and using food as a weapon against the Palestinian people.

The occupying power is destroying and blocking access to farmland and the sea and has already leveled 22 percent of agricultural land, including orchards, greenhouses and farmland in the north.

Added to this is the complete destruction of almost 70 percent of the Gaza Strip's fishing fleet and the blocking of the import of sufficient food and fuel to feed the population.

The attacks destroyed more than 60 percent of homes and displaced 85 percent of the population – 1.9 million people – who are now homeless.

“Israel not only kills and inflicts irreparable harm on Palestinian civilians with its indiscriminate bombings, but also knowingly and intentionally causes high rates of disease, persistent malnutrition, dehydration and starvation through the destruction of civilian infrastructure,” the experts emphasized.

They said that genocide is a continuous process and is not a singular event.

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