UN Warns of ‘Horror’ and ‘Atrocities’ as Israel Steps Up Gaza Assault
UN officials have issued a grave warning about the escalating violence in Gaza, urging Israel, Hamas, and world powers to intervene and prevent atrocity crimes. As Israel intensifies its assault on the enclave, Palestinians are trapped in a state of deepening horror, with nowhere to seek safety.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raised concerns during a news conference, stating that Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter horror. Displaced and deprived, millions of Palestinians are enduring unsafe, overcrowded, and unsanitary conditions without security.
Türk described the situation as apocalyptic, emphasizing the heightened risk of atrocity crimes within these circumstances. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) echoed these concerns, stating that the situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating.
According to UNRWA, another wave of displacement is currently taking place, labeling Gaza as one of the world’s most dangerous places. Türk, speaking ahead of Human Rights Day on December 10, emphasized the importance of respecting human rights, reminding the world of the atrocities that occurred throughout history when human rights were disregarded.
He also called for a comprehensive investigation into all allegations of war crimes committed by Israel or Hamas, emphasizing the need to hold those responsible accountable. Türk further highlighted the alarming escalation of militarized violence in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, urging Israeli authorities to put an end to widespread impunity for these violations.
He cited unlawful killings, aggressive settler violence, arbitrary detentions, ill-treatment, sexual violence, and an alarming increase in deaths in custody of Palestinians. Türk stressed the need for a thorough investigation into allegations of sexual crimes committed by Hamas fighters against captives.
Violence and vengeance will only perpetuate more violence, Türk warned. The only viable solution, he asserted, is to put an end to the occupation and achieve a two-state solution. In these dire circumstances, the international community must unite and demand an immediate ceasefire based on humanitarian grounds.
Authorities in Gaza have reported that, as Israel retaliates against Hamas’s assault on southern Israel since October 7, at least 16,248 Palestinians have been killed. In Israel, the official death toll stands at approximately 1,200.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on December 10, 1948, serving as a reminder of the importance of upholding and protecting human rights.
As the situation in Gaza continues to worsen, urgent global action is required to prevent further atrocities and secure a path towards peace and justice for the Palestinians who desperately need it.
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