UN slams Israel’s actions in Gaza as “horrifying” amid rising death toll

The United Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Monday, June 16, 2025, strongly criticized Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, where deadly attacks have continued relentlessly, even as the country engages in simultaneous missile exchanges with Iran.

In a statement delivered on Monday during the 59th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk said that Israel’s current military tactics were causing severe and unacceptable human suffering among Palestinians.

He described the situation in Gaza as “horrifying” and “unconscionable,” emphasizing that the methods Israel is using in its war campaign are exacting a catastrophic toll on civilians.

According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 55,362 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 19 months, many of whom were children.

Turk’s remarks came on the same day that medical sources reported at least 20 new fatalities across Gaza.

These included 15 individuals who were killed while trying to access humanitarian aid in Rafah, near food distribution centers managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a group backed by both Israel and the United States.

In addition to the deaths in Rafah, three more Palestinians seeking aid were reportedly killed in northern Gaza, and two others died in an air raid on Gaza City.

During his address, Turk accused Israel of using hunger as a weapon of war by blocking the delivery of life-saving assistance.

“Israel has weaponized food and obstructed critical aid deliveries,” he said.

He called for swift, transparent, and independent investigations into the repeated attacks on civilians attempting to access food and medical supplies.

Turk also condemned what he described as inflammatory and dehumanizing language by top Israeli officials, warning that such rhetoric echoes the darkest moments in history.

Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

The GHF began its operations in Gaza at the end of May, following a partial easing of Israel’s near-total blockade that had lasted almost three months.

The blockade had prevented the flow of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials, sparking widespread fears of imminent famine.

However, the United Nations and multiple international aid organizations have refused to cooperate with the GHF.

They argue that the group’s approach appears to prioritize Israeli military strategy over impartial humanitarian support.

The GHF’s distribution methods have been mired in controversy and violence, with several incidents of fatal shootings occurring around their aid points in Rafah and the Netzarim Corridor.

These incidents reportedly involved Israeli troops firing on desperate civilians gathered for food.

As of Saturday, the Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 274 people had been killed and over 2,000 injured near GHF aid sites since their operations began.

Al Jazeera correspondent Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, described the situation as chaotic.

“The current aid system has plunged Palestinians into chaos and despair,” he said.

“Countless people are now being forced to make an impossible choice: either stay home and face starvation or risk death trying to secure a small amount of food.”

Mounting Tensions with Iran

Beyond Gaza, Turk also addressed the escalating military conflict between Israel and Iran, which has already claimed hundreds of lives, including numerous civilians.

He expressed alarm at the intensifying violence and called on both nations to pursue immediate diplomatic efforts to end the hostilities.

“The current escalation between Israel and Iran is extremely concerning,” Turk said.

He urged both parties to uphold international humanitarian law, especially the obligation to protect civilian populations in densely populated areas.

He stressed that ongoing military actions must not disregard the rules of war and human rights conventions.

Turk’s remarks underscore the growing concern among international observers that both the situation in Gaza and the Israel-Iran conflict could spiral further, with devastating consequences for civilian populations.

As diplomatic efforts remain apparently elusive, calls for accountability, humanitarian access, and the protection of non-combatants grow louder.

These are amid fears that both conflicts are pushing the region to the brink of an even deeper crisis.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook