Western countries slammed over Israel

United Nations human rights experts have criticized Western countries for allowing Israel to go unpunished over its military operations in Gaza, which they said have now reached "alarming levels" as violence intensified in the West Bank to levels "not seen in two decades".

They also questioned whether Israel's membership in the UN should be reconsidered, given its attacks on the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, and disregard for UN advisories as a whole.

At a news conference on Monday, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese questioned Israel's membership at the UN for its "zero" respect for the organization.

Albanese noted that Israel's "genocidal assault" has devastated entire families, razed neighborhoods and destroyed essential infrastructure.

She said UNRWA is an "untouchable mechanism" that justifies the permanent responsibility of the UN toward the Palestinian people. According to the UN, at least 220 employees of the subsidiary organ of the UN General Assembly have been killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since Oct 7.

Arie Afriansyah, associate professor at the Faculty of Law at Universitas Indonesia, told China Daily there was no precedent to "unseat" a UN member state.

He said the only matter now was "the support that mainly comes from the US to Israel".

George Katrougalos, special rapporteur on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order, said it was "clear now to everybody" that there is an evolving tragedy in Palestine.

"However, this tragedy is an issue not just for the Palestinians. It is immediately related to the future of multilateralism and the UN system of rules," said Katrougalos.

Double standards

"I think that it is important for the future of a fair, just, democratic, equitable international order, not with double standards regarding international crimes. But (to) have a uniform position based on principles, values, and the United Nations charter," said Katrougalos as he called for the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine.

Tlaleng Mofokeng, special rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, said it was important to note that even before Oct 7, the situation for Palestinians "was already incompatible with the realization of the right to health".

Abdalfatah Asqool, an international law lecturer at the University of Palestine in Gaza, said: "There are some countries that are still arming Israeli and also those countries also must face sanctions, as what happened to some other countries that even did not do anything close to what Israel (is doing) in the Gaza Strip," said Asqool.

"Therefore, if they do not want to spark a regional war, the international community must stop Israel now," he added.

Meanwhile, Israel announced the expansion of its aims on Tuesday, widening its nearly yearlong fight against Hamas in Gaza to focus on Hezbollah along its northern border with Lebanon amid reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu planned to replace his defense minister with a hawkish rival.

Netanyahu's office said he laid out the aim in an overnight security cabinet meeting.

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced on both sides of the border by exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. Israel has said it prefers a diplomatic solution that would see Hezbollah moved farther back from the border.

Agencies contributed to this story.