UN Rights Chief Urges States to Challenge Israel on Occupation – Reuters

By Emma Farge

GENEVA – The U.N. human rights chief emphasized on Monday the urgency of ending the nearly year-long war in Gaza, urging nations to respond to what he described as Israel’s "blatant disregard" for international law in the occupied Palestinian territories.

According to Gaza health officials, nearly 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza since Israel launched a military response on October 7, 2023, following cross-border assaults by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 250 more. The conflict has also intensified violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

"Ending that war and preventing a full-blown regional conflict is an absolute and urgent priority," stated U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk during a speech that opened a five-week session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"States must not — cannot — accept blatant disregard for international law, including binding decisions of the Security Council and orders of the International Court of Justice, whether in this situation or any other," he added.

He referenced a ruling from the U.N. top court in July that deemed Israel’s occupation illegal, asserting that this situation requires comprehensive attention. Israel has dismissed this ruling as one-sided.

Turk’s remarks were part of a broader address marking the mid-point of his four-year term as U.N. rights chief, during which he highlighted significant global challenges and a crisis in political leadership. The session is also set to address crises in Sudan, Afghanistan, and Ukraine.

"We seem to be at a crossroads. We can either continue on our existing path—a precarious ‘new normal’—and risk slipping into a dystopian future," he remarked, receiving applause from diplomats.

He condemned the increased use of the death penalty and noted "alarming regressions" in gender equality, particularly in relation to new morality laws in Afghanistan.

Turk also commented on the political climate in Western nations like Britain, Germany, and the United States, warning that politicians may incite violence by scapegoating migrants and minorities during election cycles.

In defending his record, particularly against criticism of his approach to engaging China regarding alleged human rights abuses, Turk stated, "I believe in engagement, open dialogue, and honest exchanges, especially in the face of strong disagreements."