UN report says Israeli forces, Hamas committed cruel crimes in Gaza

The intensified Israeli attacks and the forced transfer of Palestinians appear to be aimed at a permanent demographic change in Gaza, “raising concerns about ethnic cleansing”, the UN Human Rights Office report reported, the BBC writes.

Keeping and mistreating hostages from Hamas' Islamic militant group could constitute war crimes, he said.

Israel's permanent mission in Geneva dismissed the report's findings regarding Israel's actions and said in a statement that the UN Human Rights Office had lost its credibility.

The High Commissioner's “Office is engaged in a vicious campaign of demonisation and deinformation against the state of Israel”, she said.

Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment. /Periscope