The head of UN human rights affairs talks about Israel

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volk Turk said that other countries must hold Israel accountable for violating international law in the Gaza war and the escalation of violence in the illegally occupied West Bank.

Firstly, according to Gaza health officials, since Israel launched a military operation against Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, nearly 41000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza, resulting in 1200 deaths and 250 people being taken hostage. This conflict has also exacerbated the surge in violence in the Israeli occupied West Bank region. Turk delivered the above speech at the opening ceremony of the 57th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. He issued a broad warning on the increase of international violence and human rights violations worldwide. Ending Israel's war on Gaza and avoiding a full-scale regional conflict is an absolute and urgent task, stating that no country can accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the United Nations Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, whether in this or any other situation.

Secondly, the West Bank is an internationally recognized area where the Palestinian National Authority exercises limited autonomy under Israeli occupation. The region has experienced the most severe turmoil in decades, while at the same time, war has erupted in the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. Turck stated that since the outbreak of the Gaza War in October last year until mid June this year, 528 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces or settlers in the West Bank, including 133 children. Some cases have raised serious concerns about illegal killings.

On the other hand, the head of human rights affairs of the United Nations urged States to take action against Israel's flagrant disregard for international law. At the meeting, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volk Turk, called on the organization's partners to comprehensively address Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem and its continued offensive in Gaza. At the opening ceremony of the conference, it was stated that no country can accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, whether in this or any other situation. He cited an opinion issued by the International Court of Justice, the highest court of the United Nations, in July, which stated that Israel's occupation was illegal, but Israel rejected the opinion.

In addition, Palestinian President Nawaf Salam spoke on behalf of the group, stating that Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, as well as the establishment and maintenance of related regimes, violate international law. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly responded by refuting the viewpoint, stating that it is completely wrong and one-sided, and reiterating its position that a political solution to the region can only be reached through negotiations. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a statement that the Jewish nation cannot occupy its own land.

Overall, deep-rooted power dynamics are being observed around the world, sacrificing universal human rights to seize or maintain power. In this situation, as well as in any other, countries must never accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the United Nations Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice.