The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, confirmed today, Saturday, that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues before the eyes of the world, while the Zionist enemy’s methods in the war have led to the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians and widespread displacement and destruction.
The UN official’s statements came during his briefing to the UN Security Council in New York, on Friday, which held a meeting at the invitation of Algeria, the President of the Security Council this month, to discuss Israel’s targeting of hospitals and the health sector in Gaza.
In his speech, Türk referred to a report issued by his office that covered the war on Gaza until the end of June 2024, explaining that the report documented systematic attacks on hospitals in Palestine using various methods, including Israeli air strikes that are usually followed by ground incursions by the Israeli army and the detention of patients and workers, including doctors, nurses and others.
He said: “We stress the need to respect medical facilities by all parties to conflicts,” and he also referred to attacks by Hamas and Palestinian groups on Israel. During the report, Turk stopped at the recent Israeli attacks and the siege of Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the last hospitals that remained operational in the northern Gaza Strip, referring to reports of the arrest of the hospital director, Hussam Abu Safia.
The UN official added: “There are reports of ill-treatment and torture of Palestinians, including medical staff,” indicating that “the destruction of hospitals across Gaza goes beyond depriving Palestinians of their right to adequate health care, as these hospitals provided a safe haven for thousands of people who had nowhere else to go.”
Türk pointed out that the Israeli army announced the end of its months-long operation in northern Gaza with the separation of the north from Gaza City, and drew attention to reports that “parts of northern Gaza have become completely empty of Palestinians.”
He continued: “Nearly one hundred thousand Palestinians have been injured in Gaza over the past year, noting that many of the injured have died while waiting for treatment.
He explained that all this is happening at a time when obstacles are increasing and UN humanitarian agencies are being prevented from bringing in humanitarian aid, including urgent medical supplies, and that the statistics of the Palestinian Ministry of Health indicate that more than 1,050 medical workers have been killed in Gaza.
