Ambassadors met for an emergency session to debate the escalation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Rights chief Volker Türk stated he was pained to transient the Council as soon as once more on the “catastrophic struggling of folks in Gaza,” noting that “the short-term reduction of the ceasefire, which gave Palestinians a second to breathe, has been shattered.”
He reported that since 1 March, Israeli navy operations have killed greater than 1,200 Palestinians, together with no less than 320 youngsters, in keeping with the Gaza well being authorities.
Name for investigation
Mr. Türk stated he was appalled by the killing of the medical and humanitarian personnel.
“There should be an impartial, immediate and thorough investigation into the killings, and people accountable for any violation of worldwide legislation should be held to account,” he stated.
He highlighted that there’s nowhere protected to go in Gaza amid ongoing bombardment. Moreover, half of the territory is now below obligatory evacuation orders or has been declared a no-go zone.
On the identical time, Hamas and different Palestinian armed teams proceed to launch indiscriminate rockets from Gaza into Israel, in breach of worldwide humanitarian legislation.
“I’m additionally deeply involved concerning the destiny and well-being of Israeli hostages nonetheless held in Gaza,” he stated.
Humanitarian help blockade
In the meantime, a month has handed since Israel imposed a whole blockade on important humanitarian help and provides getting into Gaza, together with meals, water, electrical energy, gas and medicines.
“The blockade and siege imposed on Gaza quantity to collective punishment and may quantity to the use of hunger as a technique of conflict,” he stated.
The UN rights chief was alarmed by the inflammatory rhetoric by senior Israeli officers round seizing, annexing and dividing territory, and about transferring Palestinians exterior Gaza.
“This raises grave issues concerning the fee of worldwide crimes and runs counter to the elemental precept of worldwide legislation in opposition to the acquisition of territory by power,” he stated.
West Financial institution violence
Mr. Türk additionally addressed the “extraordinarily alarming” scenario in the West Financial institution, together with East Jerusalem, the place Israeli operations have killed lots of, destroyed complete refugee camps and displaced over 40,000 Palestinians.
“Unlawful settlement growth continues unabated as some Israeli ministers advocate for Israeli sovereignty in the occupied territory,” he added.
The Excessive Commissioner urged the instant restoration of the ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian entry all through Gaza.
He confused that “nothing can justify the horrific assaults dedicated in opposition to Israeli communities on 7 October 2023. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian folks.”
Excessive risk of atrocity crimes
Greater than 50,400 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, and greater than 114,000 others injured, because the starting of the conflict, in keeping with the Palestinian Ministry of Well being.
Mr. Türk warned that there’s a excessive and increasing risk that atrocity crimes are being dedicated in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
He recalled that below the Geneva Conventions, States are obligated to behave when a severe violation of worldwide humanitarian legislation is dedicated.
Moreover, States get together to the Conference on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide have a accountability to behave when the risk turns into obvious.
“I urge all these with affect to make sure the safety of civilians as a matter of absolute precedence,” he stated.
No navy answer
The Excessive Commissioner confused the necessity to guarantee full accountability for all violations, and to launch all hostages instantly and unconditionally, in addition to all these arbitrarily detained.
“Israel should chorus from any acts amounting to forcible switch of Gaza’s inhabitants,” he acknowledged.
Mr. Türk stated the final 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there isn’t a navy path out of the disaster.
The one means ahead is a political settlement, primarily based on two states residing aspect by aspect in equal dignity and rights, in line with UN resolutions and worldwide legislation, he concluded.
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