United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk condemned Israel for “mass killing” of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and hindering lifesaving aid, stating Israel has a case to answer before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Turk cited “genocidal rhetoric” and “dehumanization” by Israeli officials, detailing actions such as mass killings, destruction, hindering aid leading to starvation, killing journalists, and committing war crimes. Israel’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva accused Turk of spreading “libellous rhetoric” and disregarding facts, complexities, and Israel’s security concerns or efforts to mitigate civilian suffering caused by Hamas.
Israel denies accusations of genocide in Gaza, asserting its right to self-defense following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Israel’s military actions in Gaza have resulted in an estimated 63,000 deaths according to the Gaza health ministry, with parts of the territory facing famine. Concurrently, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, highlighted global human rights and the international order being threatened by violence glorification and states withdrawing from multilateral systems, noting that rules of war are being violated with little accountability.
He condemned violations in conflicts in Ukraine, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and expressed regret over the United States’ withdrawal from international agreements. The UN Human Rights Council is experiencing funding challenges, impacting its research on Israeli settler violence and a probe into war crimes in the DRC, leading to suggestions for member states to reduce and merge proposals to manage costs.
with information from Reuters
