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The United Nations' human rights chief, Volker Turk, said Wednesday that Israel's plan for an expanded offensive in the Gaza Strip represents "a very dangerous moment" for civilians living there.
Speaking during a visit to Copenhagen for a U.N. meeting, Turk expressed concern over the increased destruction and dehumanization caused by the Israeli military campaign. "What we see is only more destruction, more hatred, more dehumanization," Turk said. "It's a very dangerous moment for civilians."
Israel announced on Monday that it would launch an expanded military operation in Gaza, which an Israeli official described as a "conquest" of Palestinian territory. On Tuesday, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that the Gaza Strip would be "entirely destroyed" under the new plan.
The plan has drawn widespread condemnation from several countries and world leaders. Turk called on all parties involved to "come to a place of reason and peace, and not just of continuous fighting and war." He emphasized the urgent need for the conflict to end, a ceasefire to be implemented, and a political solution to be reached. Turk also stressed the importance of releasing all hostages unconditionally and immediately.
Hamas has rejected cease-fire talks, calling them pointless at this stage.
Turk also called for the immediate lifting of Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip, stressing that humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter the territory. "Humanitarian assistance needs to come in. That’s an obligation under international law," he said.
Turk warned that the current global situation underscored the importance of reaffirming international cooperation principles. He criticized the U.N. Security Council for not effectively addressing the crisis in Gaza, urging world leaders to "come back to the principles, the values, to the norms, to the institutions," which have served humanity well for over 80 years.
Meanwhile, Gaza's civil defense agency reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering displaced persons, killing at least 15 people in the Tuffah neighborhood, east of Gaza City. Mahmud Bassal, a spokesman for Gaza’s civil defense, said, "Our teams retrieved 15 martyrs and 10 injured individuals after Israeli occupation aircraft targeted the Al-Karama school, which shelters displaced persons."
He had earlier reported a toll of 11 killed in strikes on the territory.
The United Nations has warned repeatedly of the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe, with famine again looming after more than two months of aid blockade by Israel.
In related news, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Tuesday that three hostages held by Hamas in Gaza had died, bringing the number of living hostages down from 24 to 21. Israel’s coordinator for hostages, Gal Hirsch, later contradicted Trump’s statement, confirming that 24 hostages are still alive.
"They said, well, only 24 are living, but now it’s 21. That was a week ago,” Trump told reporters at the White House. "As of today, it's 21, three have died," he said and offered no specifics about the identities of those presumed dead or the source of the new information.
"So this is a terrible situation. We’re trying to get the hostages out," he added.
Since Israel resumed its military offensive on March 18, after a two-month truce, Gaza has continued to face immense destruction. The toll from the ongoing conflict has been devastating, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting at least 52,615 deaths in Gaza since October 2023, most of them women and children.
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