By: ATN News
Geneva: In a powerful video message, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, addresses the harrowing events unfolding in Gaza over the past 48 hours. The scale of violence, with schools-turned-shelters targeted and the mass evacuation of Al-Shifa Hospital, starkly violates the fundamental protections owed to civilians under international law.
The aftermath of the reported Israeli strike on Al Fakhoura school, depicted in chilling images, reveals the severe toll on women, children, and men. Shockingly, three other schools hosting displaced Palestinians faced attacks, emphasizing the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Israeli military actions persist in and around Al Shifa hospital, described by UN colleagues as a 'death zone.' Evacuations, ordered by the Israeli military, place lives at great risk. Meanwhile, in Khan Younis, leaflets urging residents to recognized shelters are dropped, even as strikes continue across Gaza. The displaced, grappling with extreme restrictions, find themselves in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions, highlighting Israel's obligation to protect civilians.
Türk emphasizes the imperative adherence to international humanitarian law, emphasizing principles like distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attacks. The failure to uphold these standards raises concerns of potential war crimes.
The palpable pain and fear evident in the faces of Gaza's inhabitants, especially children, underscore the urgency for intervention. Türk calls for an immediate ceasefire on humanitarian and human rights grounds, pleading for humanity to take precedence. The question resonates: How much more violence and suffering must be endured before action is taken to end this crisis?
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