Israel has faced questions about whether its war on Hamas inside Gaza broke international law ever since the first few days of the ­campaign, when it cut off all food, water and fuel shipments to the enclave.

As the scale of death, ­destruction and human suffering escalated, ­concerns hardened into warnings that Israel risked committing war crimes, including from key allies. In January, the UK foreign secretary, David Cameron, said he was “worried” Israel may have breached international law.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 32,000 people, the majority women and children. Most residents have fled their homes, and ­shortages of food, clean water and healthcare are so severe that children are dying of malnutrition.

Accusations that Israel is committing war crimes mostly centre on the protection of civilians. There are also concerns about the treatment of detainees, who include suspected Hamas members.

Israel has been accused of blocking aid shipments, and of collective punishment, as a result of controls on getting humanitarian supplies into Gaza and around the strip.

In bombing campaigns and during ground operations, the Israeli military has been accused of carrying out disproportionate attacks, indiscriminate targeting and mass destruction of civilian infrastructure. Satellite images suggest over half of all buildings in Gaza have probably been damaged or destroyed.

It has been accused of forced ­displacement and failure to ­protect civilians who do not comply with evacuation orders, even though choosing to stay does not end ­civilians’ right to protection under international law. Israeli forces have been accused of abusing detainees and killing unarmed people, including three Israeli hostages who had escaped captivity; both are illegal even if the individuals targeted are thought to be combatants.

Israeli public ­figures, including politicians and journalists, have been accused of incitement to genocide, including in a letter to judicial