The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs quickly called for the introduction of aid to the Gaza Strip because the situation “is now shockingly anomalous”, and 7 European countries demanded Israel to lift the siege on the Strip and end the genocide in Gaza.
For his part, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volcker Turk, said on Friday that there is a significant increase in Israeli attacks and the death toll in Gaza this week, including the attacks targeting hospitals.
He added in a statement that the intensive Israeli attacks have already exacerbated the bad humanitarian situation, and called for global measures to prevent more victims.
Turk said that the hunger caused by the Israeli blockade is exacerbated, stressing that “this madness must be stopped.”
He stressed that time should not be lost in discussing an alternative proposal supported by the United States to enter aid to Gaza, noting that the United Nations has a trustworthy plan and 160,000 mobile platforms ready to enter the Palestinian sector now.
He said, referring to Israel and the United States: “To those who propose an alternative way to distribute aid, let us not waste time, we have already a plan in this regard.”
Turk also stated that threats to launch extensive attacks, systematic destruction of entire buildings, displacement of residents and depriving them of humanitarian aid; All this indicates pushing towards permanent demographic change in Gaza, which contradicts international law and is equivalent to ethnic cleansing.
“The situation is now terrible, which requires the necessity of practicing public opinion some pressure on leaders around the world,” said Yanus Lerka, in Geneva, on Friday.
7 European countries demanding the lifting of the siege
On the same level, the leaders of 7 European countries, on Friday, demanded that Israel negotiate with good faith to end the extermination war that has launched the Gaza Strip for nearly 20 months, and lifted the siege on the Strip.
This came in a joint statement by the leaders of Spain, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovenia, during which they announced their rejection of any plans for forced displacement from the sector or a demographic change.
“We will not be silent in front of the human catastrophe made in humans, which are taking place in front of our eyes in Gaza,” the seven European leaders said in their joint statement.
They warned that “many others may be hungry in the coming days and weeks unless immediate measures are taken,” and they called “the government of Israel to immediately retreat from its current policies, and refrain from carrying out additional military operations in Gaza.”
They also asked Tel Aviv to “lift the entire siege on Gaza, in a manner that ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid safely, and without obstacle to all parts of the sector, by international humanitarian authorities and in accordance with humanitarian principles.”
They stressed “the need to support the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and to ensure its safe and unrestricted access” to the needy in Gaza.
Hamas praises
On Friday, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) praised the position of the leaders of the seven European countries, and said in a statement that it appreciates the “brave position” of these countries, and appreciates “French President Emmanuel Macron’s position calling for an immediate ceasefire and lifting the siege on Gaza, and his rejection of the occupation’s violations against Palestinian civilians.”
Hamas expressed its aspiration to “a unified Arab position that pressures to stop the war on Gaza, and to ensure the introduction of relief and medical aid urgently to save civilians.”
This comes at a time when Israel prevents the entry of humanitarian aid to Gaza for the 75th consecutive day.
Israel has committed absolute American support since October 7, 2023 genocide in Gaza, killing and wounding more than 173,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, and more than 11,000 missing.
