UN rights chief warns of escalation in Gaza, urges immediate ceasefire
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UN rights chief Volker Turk warns of a dangerous escalation in the Gaza military offensive, urging an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access.
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Palestinians collect belongings from a school used as a shelter by displaced residents that was hit twice by Israeli army strikes on Tuesday, killing more than 25 people, in Bureij, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, May 7, 2025. (AP)
"Israel's" plan to escalate its military offensive in the Gaza Strip marks a critical and perilous moment for the civilian population trapped in the conflict zone, the United Nations' human rights chief told AFP on Wednesday.
"What we see is only more destruction, more hatred, more dehumanisation," United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said, emphasizing that "It's a very dangerous moment for civilians."
On Tuesday, "Israel's" Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made a stark declaration, asserting that the ongoing military actions would lead to the complete devastation of the Gaza Strip.
The plan has drawn condemnation from multiple countries and global leaders, with Turk urging the involved parties to shift toward dialogue and peace rather than persisting with relentless conflict and warfare.
He stressed the urgent need to end the war, calling for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution that includes the unconditional and prompt release of all captives.
Turk demanded that "Israel's" blockade on Gaza "needs to be lifted immediately," asserting that "Humanitarian assistance needs to come in. That's an obligation, that's an obligation under international law."
The UN Chief emphasized that the global situation highlights the urgent need to reinforce international cooperation, while also criticizing the UN Security Council for failing to effectively address what he described as the defining crises of this era.
"With what is happening at the moment, in this current geopolitical moment, it is all the more important to come back to the principles, the values, to the norms, to the institutions, because they have served humanity well for 80 years," Turk said.
He added that "if we lose them, we lose a lot of what has been actually possible by way of progress, human progress, development, and also when it comes to humanitarian action and human rights."
He concluded by expressing hope that the world would unite once more, demonstrating political leadership, particularly from the most powerful nations, to prioritize peace over war.
New attack on Gaza to be 'intensive': Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on May 5 that the Israeli military is poised for a significant incursion into the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that the occupation forces will not just conduct strikes and retreat but will instead maintain a sustained presence on the ground in Gaza as part of an extended military campaign.
Netanyahu's statement came after a five-hour meeting of the Israeli security-political cabinet on Sunday night, where ministers agreed to escalate the current military offensive in Gaza.
Israeli Channel Kan 11 reported that the upcoming military operation in Gaza, codenamed "Gideon's Chariots," is anticipated to begin following US President Donald Trump's visit to the region.
The Israeli security cabinet, led by Netanyahu, approved a gradual expansion of the ongoing war in Gaza, according to Kan 11, while the Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir confirmed that the Israeli Occupation Forces issued tens of thousands of call-up orders to reservists.
Far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich reiterated their extremist demands for a complete reoccupation of the Gaza Strip and the forced displacement of its Palestinian population, with Ben Gvir asserting that "the only aid permitted into Gaza should be support for voluntary migration."
Smotrich reinforced this stance by stating, "We are taking control of Gaza permanently, not just conducting temporary operations; this is a war for total victory," while emphasizing that, "There should no longer be any hesitation in calling this an occupation."
