Destruction of Palestinian property for buffer zone 'grave breach' of international law: UN

Israel’s attempt to create a “buffer zone” with Gaza could constitute a war crime, the UN high commissioner for human rights says.

“Extensive destruction of property, not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly, amounts to a grave breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention and a war crime,” said Volker Turk.

The destruction “appears to be aimed at or has the effect of rendering the return of civilians to these areas impossible”.

“Israel has not provided cogent reasons for such extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure,” Turk added.