Children flying kites over war-ravaged Gaza have become the focus of a new Israeli warning of forced displacement, drawing sharp condemnation Tuesday from the U.N. Human Rights Office as fears grow over collective punishment of Palestinian civilians.
"On the threat of expulsion due to children's kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous," rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said at a weekly press briefing.
Shamdasani said the Israeli warning was only the latest in a series of threats.
"We continue to see unacceptable rhetoric coming from the highest level of the Israeli authorities, showing utter contempt for international human rights and humanitarian law, and advocating and inciting violence amounting to atrocity crimes," she said.
Shamdasani also addressed the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, saying Palestinians continued to face Israeli violations despite a cease-fire that ostensibly went into effect last October.
