The UN's top human rights official insisted on
Friday that the Israeli Government must not pursue a complete
takeover of the Gaza Strip.
“A complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip
must be immediately halted,” insisted Volker Türk, UN
High Commissioner for Human Rights, after the Israeli security
cabinet approved a plan for a full-scale Israeli military
takeover in the battered enclave.
The development runs contrary to international law, Mr. Türk
continued, referring to a ruling of the International
Court of Justice that Israel must end its occupation and
achieve a two-State solution giving Palestinians the right to
self-determination.
Any further escalation of the conflict between Hamas and Israel
that has devastated Gaza and killed tens of thousands “will
result in more massive forced displacement, more
killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and
atrocity crimes”, the UN rights chief
said.
Aid access call
In a short statement, Mr. Türk insisted that rather than
intensifying the conflict, “the Israeli Government should put all
its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza's civilians by allowing
the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid”.
At the same time, all hostages must be immediately and
unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups, he
continued, adding that Palestinians arbitrarily
detained by Israel must also be released.
“The war in Gaza must end now. And Israelis and Palestinians must
be allowed to live side by side in peace,” the High
Commissioner said.
Little change in dire aid situation
Since war erupted in Gaza after Hamas-led deadly terror attacks
in Israel in October 2023, aid agencies have warned repeatedly
that Israeli bombardment, mass evacuation orders and relief
restrictions have created a humanitarian catastrophe.
Even UN staff who are still working in the enclave report being
unable to find enough to eat, according to the UN agency for Palestinian
refugees, UNRWA. Despite Israel's 27 July announcement of
daily military pauses in western Gaza "to improve humanitarian
responses”, far too little aid is getting through, humanitarians
insist.
According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, since 27 May, at
least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food; 859
in the vicinity of the non-UN aid distribution organization the
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF); another 514 victims died
along the routes of food convoys.
Echoing widespread concerns for the people of Gaza, the head of
the UN World Health Organization (WHO), warned that other
Gazans have only limited access to basic services and food, while
malnutrition is widespread and hunger-related deaths are rising.
“In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified
as suffering from acute malnutrition, the highest monthly figure
ever recorded,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
In comments to journalists on Thursday, the WHO chief said that
so far this year, 99 people have died from malnutrition,
including 29 children under five, adding that these reported
numbers are likely underestimates.
