GENEVA: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Thursday deplored the “grim milestone” of 40,000 Palestinians reported killed in Israel’s 10-month attack on Gaza, accusing the country’s military of breaking the “rules of war”.
In a statement, Turk expressed deep concern over the scale of casualties and destruction resulting from Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, which began in October. The Gaza health ministry reported that the conflict has not only killed at least 40,005 Palestinians but has also left another 92,401 people wounded.
“Today marks a grim milestone for the world,” Turk said, highlighting the profound humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. He emphasized that the majority of the deceased are women and children, reflecting the severe impact on civilian populations.
Turk criticized the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) for repeated failures to adhere to the rules of war. “The scale of the Israeli military’s destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship is deeply shocking,” he remarked.
The UN rights chief also pointed out that while his office had documented serious violations of international humanitarian law by Israeli forces, the scale of the destruction in Gaza has been particularly alarming.
Turk reiterated his call for an immediate ceasefire to halt the ongoing Israeli violence and urged for the release of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinians who are “arbitrarily detained.”
Meanwhile, ceasefire talks have resumed in Qatar. These negotiations are aimed at halting the conflict and addressing the dire humanitarian needs of the affected populations.
