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Gazans living in ‘utter, deepening horror’: UN
Volker Turk said there was a high risk of atrocity crimes being committed in such “catastrophic” humanitarian circumstances.”
“Civilians in Gaza continue to be relentlessly bombarded by Israel and collectively punished – suffering death, siege, destruction and deprivation of the most essential human needs such as food, water, lifesaving medical supplies and other essentials on a massive scale,” he told a press conference.
“Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter, deepening horror.”
He said 1.9 million of the Palestinian enclave’s 2.2 million people had been displaced and were being pushed into “ever-diminishing and extremely overcrowded places in southern Gaza, in unsanitary and unhealthy conditions”.
“The catastrophic situation we see unfolding in the Gaza Strip was entirely foreseeable and preventable.
Atrocity crimes
“In these circumstances, there is a heightened risk of atrocity crimes,” the United Nations high commissioner for human rights said.
“As an immediate step, I call for an urgent cessation of hostilities and the release of all hostages,” he said, adding: “you need to come back to your senses”.
Nearly 16,250 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, most of them women and children. About 900 people in Gaza were killed in Israeli airstrikes between Friday when a truce ended and Monday.
Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hamas fighetsr in southern Gaza on Wednesday after reaching the heart of the city of Khan Younis, forcing Palestinian civilians to seek refuge elsewhere as the number of safe areas decreases.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and free 138 captives still held after scores were released during a short-lived truce.
Dehumanizing statements
Turk said he was gravely concerned by “dehumanizing and inciteful statements” made by current and former Israeli officials, as well as Hamas figures.
“History has shown us where this kind of language can lead,” he said.
Turk said the human rights crisis in the occupied West Bank was also “extremely alarming”, calling for Israeli authorities to take immediate steps to end “widespread impunity” for violations.
“The only way to end the accumulative sufferings is ending the occupation and achieving the two-state solution,” he said.