UN Human Rights High Commissioner Volker Türk has expressed extreme dismay over remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who implied that starving two million Palestinians in Gaza could be “justified and moral” to free hostages. OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence emphasized that Türk condemns these comments unequivocally, labeling them as inciting hatred against innocent civilians.
Laurence explained that using starvation as warfare and collectively punishing the Palestinian population are war crimes. He warned that such public statements could potentially incite further atrocities. “These statements, particularly from public officials, must stop immediately, and they should be investigated. If they constitute a crime, prosecution and punishment must follow,” Laurence stressed.
He also reiterated OHCHR’s long-standing calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and increased humanitarian aid into the enclave. Laurence called on Israeli authorities to take immediate responsibility for their officials’ rhetoric. “This is an immediate call to the Israeli authorities that it is their responsibility to monitor this behavior,” he said.
The High Commissioner’s condemnation highlights the potential for exacerbating an already dire situation, urging caution and legal scrutiny of inflammatory statements by those in positions of power.
This incident underscores the urgent need for careful diplomacy and adherence to international law to prevent further escalation and suffering in Gaza.
Original Story https://news.un.org/feed/view/en/story/2024/08/1153001
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