GENEVA, April 29, 2025 (WAFA) - UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today urged the world to act to prevent the total collapse of critical life-saving support in Gaza, where Israeli strikes continue to kill civilians, including in shelters and health facilities.
“As the complete blockade of assistance essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be concerted international efforts to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new unseen level,” Türk said.
“Any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment,” the High Commissioner warned.
He also pointed to reports about an Israeli plan to declare Rafah Governorate a new humanitarian zone. “Such a plan will almost certainly mean large parts of Gaza and those who cannot easily move, including people with disabilities, those who are sick or injured, and women supporting entire families, will be forced to go without food,” Türk said.
Regarding Israel’s ongoing attacks targeting civilians, Turk said: “These incidents reflect the pattern we have seen during this escalation, of attacks that raise grave concerns of violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions. Each of these incidents must be fully investigated. Intentionally directing attacks against civilians not taking a direct part in hostilities would constitute a war crime,” Türk stressed.
Addressing Israel's continued targeting of civilian infrastructure essential for survival, the High Commissioner said:" “Such destruction significantly hinders access to water, degrades public health, and obstructs both the delivery of humanitarian aid and conduct of rescue operations, including retrieving the injured and the dead from under the rubble and clearing debris to allow the ambulances to get to the victims,” the High Commissioner said.
Türk reiterated that the cumulative impact of Israeli forces’ conduct in Gaza raises serious concerns that Israel appears to be inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life increasingly incompatible with their continued existence as a group in Gaza.
“Third States have clear obligations under international law to ensure that such conduct stops immediately, and they must act accordingly,” Türk said. “They also must search for and bring to justice all perpetrators of crimes under international law, by whomever committed.”
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