The High Commissioner for Human Rights underscored the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all actions that target civilians, or which unduly endanger them due to their disproportionate or indiscriminate character, OHCHR’s spokesman told a news briefing in Geneva today.

The High Commissioner said that, while Israel has legitimate security concerns, international humanitarian law requires that parties to a conflict refrain from attacks directed against civilian objects.

In particular, they have an obligation to exercise precaution and to respect the proportionality principle in all military operations so as to prevent unnecessary suffering among the civilian population. The prohibition on targeting civilians is also being violated by Hezbollah.

The High Commissioner urged those detaining the captive Israeli soldiers to secure their immediate and safe release. This would be instrumental in bringing the current crisis to a halt.

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