Middle East
UN: Gaza war is “carnage” – more than 30,000 dead
People assess damage and recover items from their homes in the rubble after Israeli air strikes. photo
© Omar Ashtawy/APA/ZUMA/dpa
The Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have had a devastating impact: over 30,000 dead and more than 70,000 injured. Israel defends the actions – Hamas created the battlefield in Gaza.
Türk cited the death toll at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva and said tens of thousands were also missing and were probably buried under the rubble of their homes. “This is carnage.”
Hamas figures cannot be independently verified. However, the United Nations and other observers point out that the authority’s figures have proven to be overall credible in the past.
Türk once again condemned the trigger of the Israeli military offensive: the massacres carried out by Palestinian extremists in Israel on October 7 and the abduction of civilians as hostages to the Gaza Strip. He also condemned “the brutality of the Israeli response.” “The war in Gaza must end,” demanded Türk. “All parties have committed clear violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including war crimes and potentially other crimes under international law. It is time – long overdue – for peace, education and accountability.”
Thousands of tons of ammunition used
Israel has used thousands of tons of ammunition in densely populated residential areas in the Gaza Strip. These included weapons that caused widespread damage, said Türk. Such weapons produced a massive blast wave that could rupture human organs and cause deep burns.
“Over the past five months of war, the office has registered numerous incidents indicating war crimes committed by the Israeli armed forces, as well as indications that the Israeli armed forces targeted indiscriminately or disproportionately in violation of international humanitarian law,” Turk said. Blocking aid deliveries and therefore using starvation as a method of war could, if carried out consciously, potentially be war crimes.
Türk appealed to both sides to recognize the humanity on the other side. “It is people – Palestinians and Israelis – who are being cruelly harmed,” he said.
“Hamas created the battlefield in Gaza”
The Israeli ambassador defended Israel’s actions. Your country is at war against a terrorist organization. Hamas created the battlefield in Gaza. Because the fighters were hiding behind civilians, Israel had no choice but to attack there. Israel is doing everything it can to comply with international humanitarian law, for example by warning the population about air strikes.
The Palestinian ambassador said children and women desperately lining up to get food were being bombed. He accused Israel of genocide. He condemned the October 7 attacks. However, the calendar did not begin on October 7th. Israel has been oppressing the Palestinians for decades.
The diplomats from dozens of countries in the room showed no reaction to the speech by the Israeli ambassador, who was in the hall of the UN Human Rights Council with two released hostages. After the speech by the Palestinian representative, there was long-lasting applause.