The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, warned this Tuesday that the «total siege» of the Gaza Strip by Israel is prohibited by international humanitarian law. given that it «endangers the lives of civilians and deprives them of the goods essential for their survival.»
Message for Israel
«Any restriction on the movement of people and goods to carry out the siege must be justified by military necessity,» the commissioner said in a statement issued a day after Israeli authorities ordered the siege of Gaza and suspended electricity supplies. water and fuel. The situation, as Turk stressed, could lead to a «serious worsening of the humanitarian and human rights situation in Gaza», including the capacity of medical facilities, which could see their operations impossible as the number of injured increases. .
Those displaced within the Gaza Strip as a result of the war exceed 187,000, and it is taken for granted that this number will rise in the coming hours, according to United Nations sources. Of them, some 137,500 displaced people are taking refuge in schools run by the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), where conditions are extremely precarious and the supply of drinking water is very limited, representatives of this organization said.
In relation to the attacks carried out by Israel, Turk specified that «International Law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to protect the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable during attacks.» Furthermore, he showed his «deep concern» for the increase in hate speech and incitement to violence, which has been on the rise since Saturday and sparked growing anti-Semitic sentiment as it also fuels Islamophobia in the region and globally. «We know from experience that revenge is not the answer and that, ultimately, it is innocent civilians who pay the price. The world cannot afford more polarization. We must find solutions within the framework of International Law,» he said.
About the hostages
These statements by the High Commissioner were criticized by the Israeli delegation in Geneva., where the headquarters of the UN Human Rights Council is located. The diplomatic mission sent an email to journalists to emphasize that this siege occurs after «an unprecedented massacre of innocent Israelis and that Israel has the right to defend itself.» Israel regretted that Türk did not label the Hamas attacks as acts of «terrorism.»
Likewise, Turk said he is deeply shocked by accusations of executions of civilians and, in some circumstances, mass murders by Palestinian armed groups. It is horrible to see the images of those who were kidnapped. Civilians should never be used as bargaining chips,» he maintained.
Turk called on Palestinian armed groups to «immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured» and recalled that the taking of hostages is prohibited under International Law.» For him, it is vitally important that those who were deprived of liberty in both areas «be treated humanely.» «The dignity and life of people must be respected.» , he added.
Humanitarian aid
The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) claimed this Tuesday in a statement open humanitarian corridors to immediately bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip to some 800,000 people facing extreme food and water shortages. The WFP requested in a statement «safe and unimpeded passage» so that its staff can bring basic products to people trapped in Gaza, amid bombings between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militias.
Specifically, the agency needs $17.3 million in the next four weeks to address this situation. The WFP is also transferring money to 164,000 residents of Gaza and the West Bank in the form of vouchers that can be exchanged for food in local stores, although there are also concerns about shortages. The Program wants to distribute food to 300,000 people in the coming days but denounces that all borders are closed.
On Monday, the WFP and the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees distributed food to 73,000 people affected by the fighting and the displaced are cared for daily. The Gaza Strip worries these humanitarian organizations because its inhabitants are being left without any type of supplies «and the damaged infrastructure seriously impedes their production,» according to the statement.
The spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Jens Laerke, indicated that since the escalation of violence began on Saturday there is only electricity for a few hours a day, a supply that depends entirely on a functioning power plant. inside Gaza and that it is running out of fuel. Laerke also said that the water supply is also irregular. «Every hour without electricity and water threatens the health of people and the functioning of hospitals. The crisis worsens hour by hour,» he said.