Immediate Humanitarian Truce in Gaza: UN High Commissioner Urges Courageous Choices

2023-10-23 21:35:12

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called for an “immediate humanitarian truce” in Gaza, urging leaders to make “courageous choices.”

Turk stressed in a statement that “the first step must be an immediate humanitarian truce that saves the lives of civilians through the rapid and effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.”

He added that “humanity must come first,” stressing that “many civilians, including many children, were killed on both sides.”

On the other hand, he stressed that the measures taken by Israel “to prevent civilians from benefiting from basic services” are “a form of collective punishment” and therefore contradict international law.

Turk said, “If more aid, including fuel, medicine, food, and water, does not reach the residents of Gaza in the coming days or even hours, more people will die from hunger, thirst, and lack of medical care,” expressing his “deep concern” for the lives of residents of the Strip including… Among them are “many members” of his team and United Nations employees.

The High Commission called for redoubling efforts to ensure compliance with international law, recalling that wars have laws aimed at protecting civilians and that those who violate these laws will be held accountable.

Turk said, “All civilians kidnapped and detained by Palestinian armed factions must be released immediately and without conditions. International law prohibits taking and detaining hostages.”

Turk said, “The Palestinian armed factions must stop launching indiscriminate rockets and the Israeli army must avoid using explosive weapons with wide-ranging effects in densely populated areas.”

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