Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed horror at the increased civilian deaths in the war-torn region.
“The images in the camp are horrifying and pointed out that there has been no visible change in the methods and means of warfare used by Israel that have led to so many civilian deaths,” he said in a speech. New information posted in Monday.
“Sunday’s strike once again underlines that There really is no safe place in Gaza.”
On May 26, Palestinian armed groups fired a series of large rockets toward Tel Aviv in Israel, leaving several people reportedly with minor injuries. Hours later, bullets from Israeli aircraft struck a camp in the Al Hashash area of Rafah.
Reports from the ground indicated several explosions and fires had occurred. The area is believed to be a refuge for people displaced from North Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the attack targeted “senior Hamas officials” and that it was aware of reports that civilians were harmed in the subsequent fires.
Call for responsibility
“I note that the IDF has announced a review, but what is astonishing is that by attacking such a densely populated area, this was a completely predictable result. Importantly, such assessments will lead to accountability as well as changes in policy and practice,” Mr. Türk said.
He reiterated his call for all parties to the conflict to implement a ceasefire, citing the need to protect civilians.
“Palestinian armed groups must stop their inherently indiscriminate rocket fire, a clear violation of international humanitarian law. They must also unconditionally release all hostages at the same time,” the High Commissioner said.
“Israel must take immediate steps to protect civilians and ensure they have access to essential humanitarian assistance, and release all those arbitrarily detained,” he added.
End hostilities
Tor Wennesland, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, also emphasized the need for an investigation.
“I call on the Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident. hold those responsible for any wrongdoing accountableand take immediate steps to better protect civilians,” he said in a statement.
“All parties to the conflict must refrain from actions that take us further away from the goal of ending hostilities and further jeopardize the already fragile situation on the ground and the wider region .”
Attack ‘a terrible brutality’
Echoing those comments, the United Nations’ independent human rights expert on housing also called for “coordinated global action” to prevent war, days into the war. The UN Supreme Court calls for an end to Israel’s expanding military operations in Rafah.
“Attacking women and children as they cowered in their shelters in Rafah was a horrific act of brutality,” said Balakrishnan Rajagopal, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to housing.
“We need coordinated global action to stop Israel’s actions now.”
Appointed by the UN Eastern Human Rights Association, the Special Rapporteur is tasked with monitoring and reporting on subject- or country-specific situations. They are not UN employees, do not receive salary and serve in an individual capacity.
Nowhere and no one is safe: UNRWA
On a separate social media parcel United Nations agency supporting Palestinian refugees, UNRWAalso expressed concern about the safety and condition of colleagues in Gaza, who have lost contact after the attack in Rafah.
“We have no established lines of communication with our colleagues on the ground. We are unable to confirm their location and are extremely concerned for their health and the health of all displaced persons sheltering in this area. No place is safe. No one is safe.”
In addition to the threat of deadly violence, United Nations humanitarian organizations stress that hunger remains a daily danger for Gazans.
Continued delays in aid deliveries
The warning comes amid a near complete halt of aid convoys since the Israeli military seized the Rafah crossing from Egypt to Gaza earlier this month, in response to a rocket attack on Kerem Shalom border crossing on May 5 resulted in the deaths of four people from the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Army Forces (IDF).
According to UNRWA online portal to transport UN relief items and fuel into Gaza via Rafah and nearby Kerem Shalom, no aid trucks have reached the enclave since last Sunday.
“The aid is there, dozens of kilometers away on the border – while the population is moving closer to famine,” UNRWA Director of Planning Sam Rose said. parcel on X late Sunday.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also confirmed ongoing serious challenges in receiving and delivering aid across Gaza, citing frequent delays, arbitrary checks and access restrictions by Israeli authorities.
Pressure of relief mission
Between May 1 and 23, 31 aid missions were denied access and 40 were hindered, including due to “extended delays, detention of aid workers, fired warning shots and forced the cancellation of officially approved missions,” OCHA said in a post on X on Sunday.
“If food and humanitarian supplies do not start flowing into Gaza in large quantities, desperation and hunger will spread, the United Nations World Food Program (UN World Food Program) said.WFP) also warned on Monday, after the UN Secretary General António Guterres expressed concern that this humanitarian operation was “almost collapsing”.
A spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said: “The Secretary-General emphasized that the Israeli authorities must facilitate the safe receipt and transfer of humanitarian goods from Egypt to Kerem Shalom for those in need. demand”. declare on Sunday, following reports of aid and fuel being delivered from Egypt to Gaza via Kerem Shalom.
“The Secretary-General reiterates his call for an immediate ceasefire and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages to end the suffering of civilians,” the statement noted, saying adding that Mr. Guterres was “dismayed” by the lack of implementation of recent government orders. International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the situation in Gaza.
“The Court’s decisions are binding,” the statement continued.
