By Anjali Sharma

UNITED NATIONS – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Thursday briefed the UN Security Council on the recent killings of 15 medical personnel and humanitarian aid workers in Gaza raise further concerns over the commission of war crimes by the Israeli military. 

The council members met for an emergency session to discuss the escalation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Volker Türk said it was painful to brief the Council once again on the “catastrophic suffering of people in Gaza,” noted that “the temporary relief of the ceasefire, which gave Palestinians a moment to breathe, has been shattered.” 

He reported that since 1 March, Israeli military operations have killed more than 1,200 Palestinians, including at least 320 children, according to the Gaza health authorities.

Mr. Türk said he was appalled by the killing of the medical and humanitarian personnel. 

“There must be an independent, prompt and thorough investigation into the killings, and those responsible for any violation of international law must be held to account,” he said.

He highlighted that there is nowhere safe to go in Gaza amid ongoing bombardment. Furthermore, half of the territory is now under mandatory evacuation orders or has been declared a no-go zone.

He noted that Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups continue to launch indiscriminate rockets from Gaza into Israel, in breach of international humanitarian law. 

“I am also deeply concerned about the fate and well-being of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza,” he said.

UN said that a month has passed since Israel imposed a complete blockade on vital humanitarian aid and supplies entering Gaza, including food, water, electricity, fuel and medicines. 

“The blockade and siege imposed on Gaza amount to collective punishment and may also amount to the use of starvation as a method of war,” he said.

Turk said that he was alarmed by the inflammatory rhetoric by senior Israeli officials around seizing, annexing and dividing territory, and about transferring Palestinians outside Gaza.

“This raises grave concerns about the commission of international crimes and runs counter to the fundamental principle of international law against the acquisition of territory by force,” he said.

Mr. Türk also addressed the “extremely alarming” situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where Israeli operations have killed hundreds, destroyed entire refugee camps and displaced over 40,000 Palestinians.

“Illegal settlement expansion continues unabated as some Israeli Ministers advocate for Israeli sovereignty in the occupied territory,” he added.

He urged the immediate restoration of the ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access throughout Gaza.

OHCHR chief stressed that “nothing can justify the horrific attacks committed against Israeli communities on 7 October 2023. And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people.”