GENEVA –  The United Nations’ high commissioner for human rights on Tuesday condemned allegations of mass killings and executions by Palestinian armed groups, as he warned that Israel’s announcement of a “complete siege” of Gaza would exacerbate the “already dire” humanitarian situation in the coast.

“All parties must respect international humanitarian law,” Mr Volker Turk said in a statement. “They must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects.”

As Israeli warplanes struck hundreds of sites on Monday, Israel’s defence minister said “no electricity, no food, no water, no fuel” would be allowed into Gaza, which is controlled by the militant group Hamas and is under a 16-year blockade by Israel and Egypt that heavily restricts access for people and goods.

Mr Turk said the ability of medical facilities to treat the growing number of people wounded in Israeli strikes would be harmed by a “full siege”.

“The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” he said.

He added that restrictions on people and goods must be “justified by military necessity” or may amount to collective punishment.

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza warned on Sunday of large shortages of medicine and health equipment, as well as fuel required to keep hospital electrical generators running.

Mr Turk also said he was “deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary executions of civilians, and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups”.

He called on Palestinian armed factions to immediately release Israeli civilians who were taken hostage. About 150 people are believed to have been abducted by Palestinian gunmen in the attacks that began on Saturday.

“It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings and the desecration of their bodies,” he said. “Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) called on Tuesday for a humanitarian corridor to be established into and out of the Gaza.

The WHO had reported 13 attacks on health facilities in Gaza since the weekend, and that the organisation’s medical supplies stored there had already been used up. 

“WHO is calling for an end to the violence… A humanitarian corridor is needed to reach people with critical medical supplies,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told journalists in Geneva.

“We need supplies to come in: hospitals cannot run without fuel, without electricity.

“The supplies that we have pre-positioned are already running low so we need those supplies to come,” Mr Jasarevic said.

The United Nations humanitarian office said nearly 200,000 people, or nearly a tenth of the population, have fled their homes in Gaza since the start of hostilities. AFP, REUTERS