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

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 24, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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

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

GENEVA (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.

(Reporting by Emma Farge, Editing by Miranda Murray)

Key Takeaways

  • The UN condemns the weaponisation of food in Gaza.
  • Food weaponisation is considered a war crime.
  • Civilians face starvation or death in Gaza.
  • Israeli-backed aid model criticized.
  • Deadly incidents reported near food distribution sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the UN human rights office say about food in Gaza?
The UN human rights office stated that the 'weaponisation' of food for civilians in Gaza constitutes a war crime.
What choices do civilians in Gaza face according to Thameen Al-Kheetan?
Civilians in Gaza are facing the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risking their lives to obtain food.
Under what circumstances can the weaponisation of food be considered a war crime?
The weaponisation of food, along with restricting access to life-sustaining services, can constitute a war crime under certain circumstances.

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