UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued a stark warning on Thursday about the vicious circle of devastation facing civilians in Gaza. In an informal brief addressed to UN member states, Türk expressed concern about the densely populated civilian areas in Gaza and underscored that a further displacement of inhabitants due to ongoing bombing campaigns could lead to a collapse of crucial infrastructures.
Citing data from the Israeli authorities and the Gaza Ministry of Health, Türk illuminated the human cost of the conflict on both sides, characterizing the conflict as a humanitarian and human rights crisis and drawing attention to the worrying trend of attacks on civilian populations and facilities, particularly hospitals.
Testing the notion of “safe zones”, he anchored his argument on an earlier statement issued by the UN Development Programme and explained that it affords little solace to civilians. He reasoned that with a massive influx of displaced people in the south, there could be a total collapse of water, sewage and essential healthcare services, triggering severe outbreaks of diseases and wide-scale hunger. His assertions are reinforced by harrowing testimonies from Gazans on the ground and an alarming report from the World Health Organization.
In analysing the broader implications of the conflict, Türk held a microscope to the ramifications of settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and their ripple effect across the Middle East. He then reiterated his key message: all parties involved must fundamentally agree on the equal worth of human lives. He went further to urge all UN members to back the UN Security Council’s resolution for humanitarian pauses and aid, promoting an international investigation into the human rights violations committed in this conflict.
The official numbers from the Gaza Ministry of Health state that over 11,100 Palestinians have died since the onset of the feud in early October, with about 1,200 Israelis also losing their lives within the same timeframe, most of whom were civilians.
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