UN's Turk describes situation in Gaza as 'utter, deepening horror'
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The UN human rights calls for an immediate ceasefire in the devastated Strip.
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A boy lies on the floor of the hospital waiting to be taken care of after being wounded in an Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, in Khan Younis, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 (AP)
On Wednesday, the UN human rights chief said Palestinians in Gaza are living in "utter, deepening horror," calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Strip.
Volker Turk described the situation as an "apocalyptic" humanitarian circumstance, emphasizing the high risk of atrocities being committed by "Israel". "Civilians in Gaza continue to be relentlessly bombarded by Israel and collectively punished -- suffering death, siege, destruction and deprivation of the most essential human needs such as food, water, lifesaving medical supplies and other essentials on a massive scale," he said in a press conference.
"Palestinians in Gaza are living in utter, deepening horror," Turk said, after quoting his colleagues who saw Gaza's state as "apocalyptic".
He said 1.9 million of the 2.2 million people living in the Palestinian enclave had been forcibly displaced and were being pushed into ever-diminishing and overpopulated places in southern Gaza, in unsustainable and unhealthy conditions.
He continued to mention that the genocide in Gaza could have been prevented and that the alarming pace of its progression was foreseeable. In light of such conditions, Turk said "atrocity crimes" can be easily committed and called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.
Turk also addressed the human rights crisis that is unfolding in the occupied West Bank as "extremely alarming" and urged Israeli authorities to end "widespread impunity" for violations.
As "Israel" resumes massacring civilians in Palestine as a means to "end Hamas", Turk confirmed that "violence and vengeance can only result in more hatred and radicalization" and that a "two-state solution" was the only way to achieve peace in the region.
Read more: WHO dubs Gaza hospitals 'horror movie' even before resumed aggression
Nowhere is safe in the Gaza Strip
Earlier on Wednesday, UN official Martin Griffiths expressed sentiments of hopelessness toward the situation in Gaza, as "Israel" exasperates all UN efforts by bombing the entire Gaza Strip simultaneously.
Griffiths noted the absence of safe locations for aid delivery, rendering the humanitarian situation dire, with a significant hindrance in providing help. The inability to access the Rafah crossing to receive the aid being sent to Gaza further exacerbates the challenges, leading to a grim and distressing situation with potential long-term consequences.
“There’s a logic to this, which is horrific and tragic and frankly apocalyptic,” he said. “And I can’t think of a better way to create a generation of anger and extremism than this.”
Gaza has less than 24 hours of water, electricity and fuel left. The UN has said that if assistance does not arrive, doctors will have to “prepare death certificates for their patients.” The UN aid chief, Martin Griffiths, is heading to the region to secure aid in Gaza, which is… pic.twitter.com/JFl8wf576Z
— red. (@redstreamnet) October 16, 2023
Read more: UN official says ‘apocalyptic’ situation in southern Gaza blocking aid
