Weaponisation of food in Gaza constitutes war crime, UN rights office says

GENEVA, June 24 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights office said on Tuesday that the "weaponisation" of food for civilians in Gaza constitutes a war crime, in its strongest remarks yet on a new model of aid distribution run by an Israeli-backed organisation.

"Desperate, hungry people in Gaza continue to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food," Thameen Al-Kheetan told reporters at a Geneva press briefing, referring to a series of deadly shootings near distribution sites of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

"The weaponisation of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constitutes a war crime and, under certain circumstances, may constitute elements of other crimes under international law," he said.