In his traditional opening speech Eastern Human Rights Association currently in session in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also reiterated the serious concerns raised by his Office that War crimes have been committed by all sides since the conflict broke out on October 7, sparked by Hamas-led terrorist attacks against multiple targets in Israel.
120,000 people were killed or injured in the area
“There has been unconscionable death and suffering,” the UN human rights chief told member states, highlighting the widespread destruction caused by more than eight months of vicious fighting. paralysis caused. “More than 120,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured since October 7.as a result of Israel’s fierce attacks,” he said.
Rafah fallout
In addition to those injured or killed by intense Israeli shelling, Mr. Türk noted that since Israeli forces escalated their operations into Rafah in early May, Nearly a million Palestinians had to flee their homeland “again,” while Aid delivery has been tightened, even affecting humanitarian access.
“The arbitrary denial and obstruction of humanitarian aid continues and Israel continues to arbitrarily detain thousands of Palestinians. This must stop,” the UN human rights chief stressed, echoing the concerns of UN humanitarians who described how thousands of families sheltering in Deir A-Balah must living in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, with access to only 0.7 liters of water per person per day.
“Food distribution is irregular and people suffer from many health problems, such as hepatitis A, skin diseases and respiratory diseases,” the UN aid coordination office said. OCHAin an update on Friday.
The West Bank is also in crisis
Regarding the emergency in Gaza, Mr. Türk also warned of a “significant deterioration” of the situation in the occupied West Bank, in the context of increasing attacks on Palestinians and on Israeli soldiers. increase.
“As of June 15, 528 Palestinians, including 133 children, have been killed by Israeli security forces and/or settlers since October, in many cases perpetrated,” Türk said. serious concerns about unlawful killings.” “During the same period, 23 Israelis were killed in the West Bank and Israel in clashes or attacks by Palestinians, including eight members of the Israeli security forces.”
Lebanon connection
Regarding the conflict in Gaza, the head of the United Nations human rights agency expressed deep concern about the possibility of a “full-scale war” between Lebanon and Israel.
Continuous rocket attacks and gunfire across the shared border have killed 401 people in Lebanon, including medical staff and journalists, while more than 90,000 people were also displaced in Lebanon, Türk said. this country.
In Israel, about 60,000 people were forced to leave their homes and 25 Israelis died. “Thousands of buildings have been destroyed. I reiterate my call for a cessation of hostilities and for influential parties to take all possible measures to prevent a full-scale war,” the High Commissioner said.
Global war costs
In an inaccurate assessment of the war’s impact worldwide, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also noted that The number of civilians killed in armed conflict last year increased by 72%.
Data collected by Mr. Türk’s Office shows The rate of women killed by 2023 will double and the rate of children will triplecompared to 2023.
“Killing and injuring civilians has become a daily occurrence,” Mr. Türk said. “The destruction of critical infrastructure is a daily occurrence. Devastating and reckless. Children shoot at. The hospital was bombed. Heavy artillery fired on entire communities. All along with hateful, divisive and dehumanizing words.”
Ukraine appealed
Turning to Ukraine, the head of the UN human rights agency said that the ground offensive by Russian armed forces in the Kharkiv region had “destroyed entire communities”. People were “hiding in basements, without electricity, water or adequate food because the area was violently attacked with explosive weapons with wide-area effects,” Mr. Türk continued. project of “continuous waves of large-scale attacks on energy infrastructure” that have crippled 68% of Ukraine’s electricity generation capacity.
