The United Nations has sharply criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where nearly two years of relentless attacks have left Palestinians enduring what UN rights chief Volker Turk describes as “horrifying, unconscionable suffering.”
Speaking at the 59th Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Turk highlighted the devastating impact of Israel’s warfare, which has claimed at least 55,362 lives, including thousands of children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
The genocide, ongoing since October 2023, has drawn global condemnation for its toll on civilians and infrastructure, with hospitals, neighborhoods, and vital services reduced to ruins.
The crisis has worsened with deadly incidents at aid distribution sites.
Medical sources reported that at least 20 Palestinians were killed on Monday alone, including 15 near Rafah’s aid points operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israel-backed initiative.
The GHF, which began distributions in May after Israel partially lifted a near-total blockade, has been criticized by the UN and humanitarian groups for prioritizing military objectives over civilian needs.
“Israel has weaponised food and blocked lifesaving aid,” Turk stated, urging “immediate, impartial investigations” into attacks on desperate civilians seeking food.
Since GHF operations began, at least 274 people have been killed and over 2,000 wounded near aid sites, deepening the chaos.
The situation in Gaza has been described as a “hell on earth” by Doctors Without Borders, with aid workers themselves surviving on minimal rations.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah, noted that hungry Palestinians face an impossible choice: “staying in their homes and starving, or risking their lives to obtain a bag of flour.”
The blockade and violence have crippled aid efforts, leaving many without basic necessities.
Turk called on global leaders to pressure Israel and Hamas to end the conflict, emphasizing that “the facts speak for themselves.”
As Gaza’s civilian toll mounts, the international community faces growing calls to address this humanitarian catastrophe.