The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, calls for an investigation into the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. It would have “clearly devastating humanitarian and human rights impacts”.
Austrian UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Israel to immediately stop attacks with particularly explosive weapons in densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip. “Given the predictably high number of civilian casualties and the large-scale destruction of civilian objects, we have serious concerns that these are disproportionate attacks that violate international humanitarian law,” Turk said Friday in Amman, Jordan.
Türk called for an investigation into Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip. “Intense Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, including with high-yield explosive weapons in densely populated areas, is clearly having devastating humanitarian and human rights impacts,” he said.
“War crimes on both sides”
The UN commissioner had already spoken about war crimes committed on both sides of the conflict, after a visit to the Rafah border crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. He was referring to the terrorist attack on Israel by the Palestinian extremist organization Hamas on October 7, as well as Israeli counterattacks.
The destruction around hospitals makes it difficult for people to seek help. The call to evacuate hospitals in the northern part of the Gaza Strip is “a death sentence” for patients, Türk said. Hospitals in the south of the Gaza Strip could no longer accept more people.
“The occupation must end”
According to Türk, the conflict in the Middle East can only be ended with the end of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The Palestinians’ right to self-determination must be respected, Türk said in Amman: “To end the violence, the occupation must end.” and Israeli company.
The vicious circle of violence must be broken, Türk said. “We have seen repeatedly throughout history that extremism only leads to more extremism,” he said. “We need action to break the cycle of revenge, death, sadness and anger.”
Israel no longer considers the Gaza Strip occupied since the withdrawal of Israeli settlers and military personnel in 2005. The United Nations sees this differently. Given that Israel continues to control supplies to the population and all but one of the entrances to the Gaza Strip, the area is still considered occupied. Occupied territories also include the West Bank.
Netanyahu continues to reject the ceasefire
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that civilians should continue to be allowed to safely escape the combat zone in the Gaza Strip. “The fight against Hamas, the Hamas terrorists, continues, but we want to allow the safe passage of civilians from the combat zone in certain locations for a certain period of time, a few hours here, a few hours there. And that’s what we do,” he told US broadcaster Fox News.
Netanyahu reiterated in the interview that Israel does not agree to a ceasefire: “A ceasefire with Hamas means a surrender to Hamas,” he said. “Therefore, there will be no ceasefire without the release of the Israelite hostages.” Israel does not want to try to conquer, govern or occupy the Gaza Strip. “But we want to give him and ourselves a better future across the Middle East. And for that to happen, Hamas must be defeated.” (APA/dpa/Portal)