The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Austrian Volker Türk, is deeply concerned about the Israeli attacks on Rafah. He accuses Israel of “collective punishment of the Palestinians” after the October 7 Hamas terror.
“This collective punishment of Palestinians, especially the cutoff of humanitarian aid, is a violation of international humanitarian law,” Türk told Ö1 “Morgenjournal”. He has “serious concerns” that Israel’s actions are proportionate.
“I can’t really think of any words anymore.”
Türk, who is attending a meeting of EU development ministers in Brussels on Monday, described the situation in Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip as “terrible. I can’t really think of words to describe the situation right now.”
Before the war, Rafah had about 300,000 people. There are now 1.4 million – without adequate nutrition and humanitarian support. Many witnessed their relatives being murdered, Türk continued.
“To lead a new attack in such a situation, I ask myself: what else needs to be done?” the Austrian emphasized. About 100,000 people are now ‘severely’ affected in one way or another by Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. 27,000 people were killed, 70 percent of whom were women and children. There are also about 60,000 to 70,000 injured.
The UN unfortunately “became a pawn” in the conflict
In the conflict, the UN “unfortunately became a pawn,” Türk lamented, emphasizing: “The UN is not part of a war.” However, it is obliged to denounce violations of international humanitarian law. For this, the UN and he are personally attacked, Türk reported. “This scapegoat mentality is a very bad thing.”
Türk: “No one can replace UNRWA aid
Türk also defends the aid organization for Palestinian refugees, which has come under criticism. “UNRWA carries out extremely important humanitarian work.” “No one can replace this help.” Some of the aid organization’s employees were accused of involvement in terrorist acts by the Islamist Hamas in Israel on October 7, in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 kidnapped. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini is also expected at the meeting in Brussels.
Source: Krone
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