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UN human rights chief voices horror at Israel’s new Gaza strikes World leaders express outrage at Israel’s renewed bombing of Gaza civilians
(about 2 hours later)
Volker Türk calls for immediate end to violence and unconditional release of hostages Strikes said to target Hamas killed hundreds within hours including women and children, undermining ceasefire
The UN’s human rights chief has voiced horror at Israel’s resumption of airstrikes on Gaza that have killed at least 404 people, saying further misery was being inflicted on people “already suffering catastrophic conditions”. World governments and UN officials have expressed horror and dismay at Israel’s resumption of strikes on Gaza that killed hundreds within a few hours on Monday, warning the assault could shatter a ceasefire that was intended to be permanent.
In a statement on Tuesday Volker Türk said he was horrified by Monday night’s airstrikes and shelling in Gaza. The decision to resume shelling in effect ended the fragile ceasefire that has paused the violence in the devastated Gaza Strip since mid-January. Palestinian authorities reported 404 deaths by about noon local time, nine and a half hours after the strikes began. Jordan, a US ally that has a peace agreement with Israel, called the strikes “aggressive and barbaric”. Egypt, which also has a diplomatic relationship with Israel and helped mediate the truce, called the bombing a “flagrant violation” of the ceasefire that took effect in mid-January.
Türk said the strikes “will add tragedy to tragedy”, while calling for an immediate end to the violence, the unconditional release of hostages and all those arbitrarily detained. The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Türk, said the “airstrikes and shelling, which killed hundreds, are horrifying. This nightmare must end immediately.”
“The last 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis,” he said, calling for a political settlement, in line with international law. “Israel’s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions.” Türk added that the strikes would “add tragedy on to tragedy”, while calling for an immediate end to the violence, the unconditional release of hostages held by Hamas militants and all those arbitrarily detained – a reference to Palestinian detainees held by Israel.
Separately the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Muhannad Hadi, described Israel’s renewed assault as “unconscionable”, as he called for the ceasefire to be reinstated immediately. “The last 18 months of violence have made abundantly clear that there is no military path out of this crisis,” he said, calling for a political settlement in line with international law. “Israel’s resort to yet more military force will only heap further misery upon a Palestinian population already suffering catastrophic conditions.”
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the EU deplored the fact that hostilities had restarted in Gaza. “We want Hamas to release all its hostages and we ask Israel to show restraint and to re-establish free humanitarian access to Gaza,” the spokesperson said, saying that negotiations were the only way to find a solution. “Israelis and Palestinians have suffered hugely over the last year. It’s time to break this cycle of violence.” Separately, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, Muhannad Hadi, described Israel’s renewed assault as “unconscionable”.
Turkey, a staunch supporter of Palestine, including the Hamas terrorist group, described Israel’s attacks on Gaza as a “new phase in its policy of genocide” against Palestinians and urged the international community to take a determined stance to ensure a ceasefire is upheld and humanitarian aid is delivered. While Israel says the war is targeted at Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is fighting allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the international criminal court, including starvation of civilians and “extermination”. The Israeli government is separately disputing allegations of genocide.
Russia’s government said the attacks marked “another spiral of escalation that is causing our concern”. The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, said on Monday – before the strikes began – that Israel had committed “a breach of international law” by blocking aid into Gaza, in a significant hardening of the British position. “Israel quite rightly must defend its own security but we find the lack of aid … unacceptable, hugely alarming and very worrying,” he told parliament.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said the reported civilian casualties from the overnight Israeli strikes were “appalling”. “We want to see this ceasefire agreement re-established as soon as possible,” they added.
The EU’s aid commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, said the “renewed escalation in Gaza is devastating. Civilians have endured unimaginable suffering. This must stop.”
Reuters cited two security sources in Egypt as saying that Egyptian mediators were surprised by the overnight airstrikes as negotiations a day earlier had been calm and they had not been notified. Mediators were now engaged in intense contacts to salvage the ceasefire and return to talks, they said.
Qatar and Saudi Arabia – two powerful gulf monarchies in the region – both condemned Israel for the strikes.
Fearing ethnic cleansing under the Israeli-backed plan by Donald Trump, the US president, to forcibly expel the remaining Palestinians from the ruins of Gaza, Arab nations have proposed an alternative plan to rebuild it. However, they have no way to enforce such a scheme on the occupied territory without Israeli agreement.
Turkey, a staunch supporter of Palestine and Hamas, described Israel’s attacks on Gaza as a “new phase in its policy of genocide” against Palestinians.
A spokesperson for the European Commission said the EU deplored the fact that hostilities had restarted in Gaza. “We want Hamas to release all its hostages and we ask Israel to show restraint and to re-establish free humanitarian access to Gaza,” the spokesperson said, saying that negotiations were the only way to find a solution.
The head of the European Council, António Costa, said he was shocked and saddened by the news from Gaza: “Violence must stop and the terms of the ceasefire agreement must be respected. All hostages and detainees must be released, and humanitarian aid must be resumed immediately,” he wrote on X.
Israel, which consulted the US in advance of the action, said the strikes were targeted at mid-level Hamas commanders, officials and infrastructure.Israel, which consulted the US in advance of the action, said the strikes were targeted at mid-level Hamas commanders, officials and infrastructure.
A former French ambassador to the US and Israel, Gérard Araud, said what was happening in Gaza should incite “horror, indignation and condemnation from the international community”. In posts on social media, the French diplomat said the operation launched by Israel did not respond to any identifiable military objective “other than to inflict suffering on the civilian population until Hamas capitulates, which it will not”. A former French ambassador to the US and Israel, Gérard Araud, said that what was happening in Gaza should incite “horror, indignation and condemnation”.
In posts on social media, the French diplomat said the operation launched by Israel did not respond to any identifiable military objective “other than to inflict suffering on the civilian population until Hamas capitulates, which it will not”.