GENEVA: The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has strongly called on Israel to immediately cease its ground operations in Gaza City, which began on Tuesday. He warned that increasing evidence suggests the commission of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly other grave violations.
“In considering the impact on women, children suffering from malnutrition, and individuals with disabilities, the consequences of such attacks are devastating,” Turk stated to journalists in Geneva. “The only appropriate response now is: end the slaughter,” he emphasized.
He condemned the ongoing escalation, describing it as “absolutely unacceptable,” and urged Israel to refrain from further destruction in Gaza.
A UN Commission of Inquiry recently concluded that Israel has committed acts amounting to genocide in Gaza, accusing top Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of inciting such acts. Israel dismissed these allegations as “scandalous.”
While Turk has not explicitly labeled these actions as genocide, he acknowledged the growing body of evidence pointing toward multiple war crimes and crimes against humanity. When asked if he might use the term genocide to describe Israel’s conduct, Turk responded: “We observe an accumulation of war crimes and serious violations. Whether it is classified as genocide is ultimately for the court to decide, but the evidence continues to mount.”
