UN humanitarian chief decries war on Gaza as 'betrayal of humanity'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Apr 2024 20:53
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Martin Griffiths calls for accountability for the ongoing civilian casualties and massive destruction.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths speaks during a press conference. (AP)

The Israeli aggression on Gaza has evolved into a "betrayal of humanity," the departing UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said.

Ahead of the six-month mark since the outset of the war, Martin Griffiths, the departing UN official, issued a statement calling for a “collective determination that there be a reckoning for this betrayal of humanity."

“Each day, this war claims more civilian victims,” said Griffiths.

“Every second that it continues sows the seeds of a future so deeply obscured by this relentless conflict,” he added.

Griffiths expressed sorrow for “the unconscionable prospect of further escalation in Gaza, where no one is safe and there is nowhere safe to go.”

He stressed that “an already fragile aid operation continues to be undermined by bombardments, insecurity and denials of access.”

“On this day, my heart goes out to the families of those killed, injured or taken hostage, and to those who face the particular suffering of not knowing the plight of their loved ones,” he concluded his statement by saying.

It is worth noting that UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, who has played a significant role in pushing for relief to Gaza and previously supervised operations in Yemen, is stepping down due to illness, the global organization announced on March 25.

Griffiths, a British attorney, has repeatedly urged "Israel" to let humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip while it wages a brutal war on Palestinians, killing over 33,000 Palestinians.

In February, he advised the occupation against an assault on Rafah, where over 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge, saying that such an operation "could lead to a slaughter."

Griffiths formerly served as the UN Special Envoy for Yemen and as a Syria advisor. He has also worked for international humanitarian groups, including UNICEF, Save the Children, and ActionAid.

UN expresses fear that 'Israel' is using AI in airstrikes on Gaza

Earlier today, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concerns over recent reports that "Israel" is using artificial intelligence in its airstrikes on Gaza.

A report published by +972 magazine earlier this week, citing Israeli intelligence, revealed that the IOF applied the use of AI to locate targets for bombing and was used in areas including densely populated residential ones, leading to mass civilian casualties.

Dubbed Lavender, the system analyzes the personal data of Gaza’s residents and lists those suspected of ties to the Palestinian Resistance group Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

Israeli utilization of sophisticated AI technology in its genocidal campaign in Gaza marks new territory in modern warfare, adding to the legal and ethical scrutiny and reshaping the dynamics between military personnel and automated systems.

Yesterday, one intelligence officer who used Lavender said, "The machine did it coldly. And that made it easier,” he said.

“I would invest 20 seconds for each target at this stage, and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval. It saved a lot of time,” another soldier added.