By John Moses
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on world governments to take immediate steps to address the worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, describing the situation as “unbearable.”
Speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva on Monday, Türk warned of the dire consequences of inaction. “Everyone in government needs to wake up to what is happening in Gaza,” he said. “All those with influence must exert maximum pressure on Israel and Hamas to put an end to this unbearable suffering.”
Türk emphasised that a lasting resolution can only be achieved through the realisation of a two-state solution, with Gaza forming a vital component of a future Palestinian state.
In a strongly-worded address, the UN rights chief criticised Israel’s ongoing military operations in the enclave, stating that the tactics employed have inflicted “horrifying and unconscionable” suffering on Palestinian civilians. He further condemned what he termed “disturbing, dehumanising rhetoric” from Israeli officials and decried the continued obstruction of UN humanitarian aid deliveries, which have been largely blocked since March.
Türk also demanded an independent inquiry into civilian deaths linked to food distribution efforts run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a controversial aid mechanism supported by both Israel and the United States. He noted that civilians are often forced to navigate active conflict zones to reach GHF centres, with dozens reportedly killed in the attempt.
