Geneva: The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, issued one of the strongest condemnations yet of Israel’s actions in Gaza, warning that the mounting civilian death toll and obstruction of aid risk crossing into grave violations of international law. Addressing the opening of the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk described the situation as a “mass killing” of Palestinians, calling for accountability before the world’s highest judicial body.
Türk told delegates that the civilian suffering in Gaza has reached intolerable levels. He cited reports of widespread destruction of homes, the targeting of journalists, and the systematic denial of humanitarian access as factors worsening the crisis. “Israel's mass killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza; its infliction of indescribable suffering and wholesale destruction; its hindering of sufficient lifesaving aid and the ensuing starvation of civilians… are shocking the conscience of the world,” Türk declared.
While stopping short of declaring the conflict a genocide, Türk noted with alarm the “open use of genocidal rhetoric” by senior Israeli officials, warning that such language fuels cycles of hatred and violence. He stressed that Israel “has a case to answer before the International Court of Justice,” underscoring that legal mechanisms already underway must be allowed to run their course. His remarks added weight to ongoing proceedings in The Hague, where allegations of war crimes are under review.
The UN rights chief painted a grim picture of daily life in Gaza, where civilians face severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter. With humanitarian convoys blocked or delayed and aid corridors under constant threat, families are forced into dire conditions. “The deliberate obstruction of aid is not only unlawful but unconscionable,” Türk said, adding that starvation is being used as a weapon of war.
Though Gaza dominated his speech, Türk widened the scope of his remarks to warn of an alarming global trend: the erosion of international norms that protect civilians in conflict. He said that the “rules of war are being shredded” not just in the Middle East, but also in conflicts across other regions where civilian populations are increasingly targeted. This, he warned, signals a dangerous weakening of the human rights system painstakingly built in the aftermath of the Second World War.
The commissioner’s remarks drew strong reactions from humanitarian groups and rights advocates who have long accused the international community of failing to act decisively. By framing Israel’s actions in Gaza as a matter for international justice, Türk amplified calls for more robust accountability mechanisms. “A world that ignores Gaza today risks setting a precedent of impunity tomorrow,” one observer in Geneva remarked.