TOKYO: Waleed Siam, the Palestinian Ambassador to Japan, told a press conference Wednesday that Israel committed a war crime by bombing the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza without advanced warning, resulting in the reported deaths of hundreds of civilians.

The ambassador also said even if warnings were given, the bombing is against all the human values and international law. He condemned Israel for “this horrifying massacre.”

“We are deeply saddened and utterly shocked by the horrifying massacre that unfolded less than 12 hours ago,” Siam said. “Over the past 11 days, hospitals and medical facilities have been subjected to relentless bombings by the Israeli occupation forces. Despite their evacuation warnings, we must question the feasibility of evacuating hospitals filled with injured citizens requiring ongoing medical care.”

Siam pointed out that civilians in Gaza have been displaced “due to the destruction of their homes from these relentless bombings” and have been forced to seek refuge wherever they can. He said that the bombing of the hospital is “a stark and harrowing illustration of the grave atrocities committed against unarmed civilians in Gaza by the ultra-radical, right-wing Israeli government.”

He accused members of the Israeli government of calling for the extermination of Palestinians.

“This is a glaring example of the world’s failure to hold the Israeli government accountable for its ongoing acts of terror and extermination against Palestinians, often under the guise of self-defense,” Siam said. “The tragic events witnessed at Al-Ahli Hospital today go beyond mere acts of terrorism, atrocities or even acts of war. They undeniably constitute war crimes and represent a flagrant violation of fundamental human rights and international law.”

Siam said Israel was trying to shift the blame for the bombing. Israel says the hospital was hit by a rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Siam pointed out that Israel has issued evacuation instructions for a number of hospitals and medical centers, which, he says, shows that Israeli forces are purposefully carrying out a campaign of bombing in Gaza aimed at its civilian population.