The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, strongly denounced what he called “unconscionable” Israeli attacks on humanitarian aid facilities in Gaza, calling for immediate accountability and a halt to such violations. His comments came during a press briefing on June 3, following the release of new data showing dozens of UN-run aid sites hit by Israeli strikes in recent months.
Türk described the repeated targeting of humanitarian installations—including schools, shelters, and medical centers—as a grave breach of international humanitarian law. “These are places that are supposed to be safe zones for civilians,” he said. “To attack them is not only unlawful—it is unconscionable.”
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 180 aid sites in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed since Israel’s military campaign intensified in October 2023. The list includes dozens of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) shelters, where displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.
The latest figures from UNRWA show at least 390 people, including many women and children, have been killed while inside or near UN-designated facilities. Many of these sites were previously registered with Israeli authorities as non-combat zones, Türk emphasized.
The Israeli government maintains that it does not deliberately target civilian infrastructure, alleging instead that Hamas militants operate in and around civilian areas, using them as shields. An Israeli military spokesperson said investigations were ongoing into some of the incidents, and repeated that Israel was making efforts to minimize civilian harm.
Türk dismissed those explanations as insufficient. “The presence of armed actors near a shelter does not nullify its protected status,” he said. “International law requires all parties to distinguish between combatants and civilians at all times. That responsibility is not optional.”
His remarks come amid growing global pressure on Israel regarding the humanitarian toll of the conflict. The Gaza Strip remains under a near-total blockade, with aid convoys facing significant delays and restrictions. The UN has warned of looming famine and collapse of healthcare services as the war enters its ninth month.
Human rights organizations welcomed Türk’s comments, urging the international community to impose consequences for violations. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch issued a joint statement calling for independent investigations and sanctions on individuals responsible for targeting aid sites.
The UN Human Rights Office is currently documenting what it says may amount to war crimes. Türk confirmed that data on each attack site is being compiled and preserved for potential use in international tribunals.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Over 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced, many multiple times, as Israeli operations push deeper into southern Gaza. Health officials say hospitals are overwhelmed and lack basic supplies due to ongoing bombardments and access restrictions.
Despite repeated calls for a ceasefire, negotiations have stalled, with both Israel and Hamas blaming each other for the impasse. International mediators, including Egypt and Qatar, have so far failed to broker a sustained truce.
Türk concluded his remarks with a direct appeal to the UN Security Council and member states. “Words of concern are not enough. The world must act—because lives are being lost in places where people believed they would be safe.”
The UN High Commissioner’s statement adds to the growing chorus of international condemnation surrounding the Gaza war, as civilian casualties continue to mount and the humanitarian space for relief agencies steadily disappears.
Source; Middle East Monitor
