UN rights chief says 'nightmare' in Gaza must end immediately, urging war to end permanently

GENEVA

The UN human rights chief on Tuesday said recent Israeli airstrikes in Gaza "will add tragedy onto tragedy," and called for an urgent end to the "nightmare" in the besieged strip.

"I am horrified by last night’s Israeli airstrikes and shelling in Gaza, which killed hundreds, according to the Ministry of Health in the strip. This will add tragedy onto tragedy," Volker Turk said in a statement.

Turk stressed that the last 18 months of violence have made it "abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis," noting that the only way forward is a political settlement, in line with international law.

"Israel’s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions," he said.

"This nightmare must end immediately. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. All those arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally," he urged, and continued: "The war must end permanently."

He also called on all parties with influence to do all in their power to achieve peace and avoid further suffering of civilians.

Within five hours after Israel reneged on ceasefire talks and resumed its genocidal campaign in the enclave on Monday night, local authorities in Gaza said at least 326 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed.

Israel had agreed on a ceasefire with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas since Jan. 19, and the two sides were in talks on extending the ceasefire to the second phase before Tel Aviv suddenly launched a massive assault.

Israeli attacks have killed more than 48,500 Palestinians since October 2023, most of them women and children, and left Gaza in ruins.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.