UN rights chief prioritizes ending war on Gaza, averting regional war
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Volker Turk warns that "deadly and destructive" activities in the West Bank are on a scale "not witnessed in the last two decades."
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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk presents a global update on human rights in the world in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 9, 2024. (AP)
The UN human rights chief said Monday that ending the war on Gaza and preventing a full-fledged regional crisis is an "absolute and urgent priority."
Volker Turk spoke during the inaugural session of the 57th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, telling Reuters that the situation of "illegality across the Occupied Palestinian Territory deriving from Israel's policies and practices, as so clearly spelled out by the International Court of Justice in its advisory opinion in July, must be comprehensively addressed."
Turk stressed that the "blatant disregard for international law," including the ICJ's ruling, cannot be accepted by the global community, emphasizing that Palestinians face daily survival challenges and stated that almost 1.9 million people have been forcibly moved across the Gaza Strip, many of whom have been relocated many times.
Turk also touched on the nearly 10,000 Palestinians that are held in Israeli prisons with over 50 dying from inhumane conditions.
He cautioned that "deadly and destructive" activities in the West Bank are on a scale "not witnessed in the last two decades" and that they are "worsening a calamitous situation" already exacerbated by settler violence.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the latest Israeli military offensive in the northern West Bank has killed 39 Palestinians, injured around 150 others, and caused significant damage to infrastructure and homes.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that almost 662 Palestinians have been murdered by "Israel" since October 7.
Apocalyptic West Bank war preventable by Gaza ceasefire: Israeli media
Israeli occupation forces are trying to prevent a "full-fledged" Intifada in the occupied West Bank and taking a series of decisions that have displeased illegal settlers. The military is also warning of Israeli ministers' actions, which are bringing the occupied territory closer to an apocalyptic scene.
Among such decisions is the removal of multiple land barriers in the territory, hoping that allowing Palestinians easier movement in the occupied territory would prevent the entire population of the West Bank from joining acts of resistance.
"Therefore, contrary to the demands of the settlers in [in the West Bank], the IDF is removing barriers that were imposed following the car bombings (in al-Khalil) and tries to allow the population as much freedom of movement and livelihood as possible," Ron Ben Yishai, a veteran Israeli war correspondent, wrote for the Ynet news website.
The war correspondent pointed to the pressure employed by Israeli authorities against Palestinians in the West Bank, including bans on work permits, which is encouraging Palestinians to join the Resistance.
Ben Yishai reported that fears are rising of a "mass attack" by Palestinians on illegal Israeli settlements near them.
He also cited the Israeli military command's belief that unless appropriate security measures are taken in the West Bank, the territory "will not ease."
