UN rights chief Volker Türk warns of Gaza civilians crisis, blaming Israel’s war crimes and global inaction for worsening suffering.
GENEVA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing it of mass killings, blocking aid, and committing repeated war crimes. Speaking at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council on Monday, he also criticised the international community for failing to stop the crisis.
Türk said Israel’s military campaign had left civilians facing starvation, destruction, and immense suffering. He added that journalists, UN staff, and NGO workers were among those killed. “Israel’s mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza; its infliction of indescribable suffering and wholesale destruction; its hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid and the ensuing starvation of civilians; its killing of journalists, UN staff and NGO workers; and its commission of war crime upon war crime, are shocking the conscience of the world,” he said.
The UN official further raised alarm over what he called “the open use of genocidal rhetoric” and “disgraceful dehumanisation of Palestinians by senior Israeli officials.” His comments come as aid agencies warn of an escalating humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where food, medical supplies, and fuel remain critically scarce.
Despite repeated calls for ceasefires and unhindered humanitarian access, aid convoys have been obstructed, leaving civilians in dire need. Rights groups say international powers have failed to act decisively, despite clear evidence of mass civilian suffering.
Türk urged the global community to move beyond statements and take concrete steps to protect Gaza’s population. Humanitarian organisations echoed this call, stressing that the world must not allow collective punishment of civilians to continue.
