UN Rights Chief Urges Israel to Halt Gaza Occupation Plan

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has stated that Israel's plan to occupy Gaza City must be immediately suspended.

"Given all the evidence to date, this further escalation will lead to more mass forced displacement, more killings, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction, and brutal crimes," the UN official noted, adding:

"Instead of escalating this war, the Israeli government must invest all its efforts in saving the lives of the civilian population of Gaza by allowing a full and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid. The hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally by the Palestinian armed groups. Palestinians arbitrarily arrested by Israel must also be released immediately and unconditionally."