UN rights chief deplores 'grim milestone' of 40,000 Gaza dead | ABS-CBN
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UN rights chief deplores 'grim milestone' of 40,000 Gaza dead
UN rights chief deplores 'grim milestone' of 40,000 Gaza dead
Agence France-Presse
Published Aug 16, 2024 10:27 AM PHT
A Palestinian woman mourns a family member killed in Israeli bombardment, at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on August 14, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Hamas group. Photo by Bashar Taleb/AFP
A Palestinian woman mourns a family member killed in Israeli bombardment, at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on August 14, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the militant Hamas group. Photo by Bashar Taleb/AFPGENEVA, Switzerland —The UN human rights chief Thursday deplored the "grim milestone" of 40,000 Palestinians reported killed in Israel's 10-month assault on Gaza, accusing the country's military of breaking the "rules of war."
GENEVA, Switzerland —The UN human rights chief Thursday deplored the "grim milestone" of 40,000 Palestinians reported killed in Israel's 10-month assault on Gaza, accusing the country's military of breaking the "rules of war."
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk blamed Israel for the soaring death toll in the territory, where it launched a fierce assault in response to attacks by Hamas militants in October.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk blamed Israel for the soaring death toll in the territory, where it launched a fierce assault in response to attacks by Hamas militants in October.
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The health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that the death toll from the conflict had reached at least 40,005 people, with another 92,401 wounded.
The health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday that the death toll from the conflict had reached at least 40,005 people, with another 92,401 wounded.
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"Today marks a grim milestone for the world," Turk said in a statement.
"Today marks a grim milestone for the world," Turk said in a statement.
"Most of the dead are women and children. This unimaginable situation is overwhelmingly due to recurring failures by the Israeli Defense Forces to comply with the rules of war," he added.
"Most of the dead are women and children. This unimaginable situation is overwhelmingly due to recurring failures by the Israeli Defense Forces to comply with the rules of war," he added.
"The scale of the Israeli military's destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship is deeply shocking."
"The scale of the Israeli military's destruction of homes, hospitals, schools and places of worship is deeply shocking."
He said his office had documented "serious violations" of international humanitarian law by both the Israeli military and Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas.
He said his office had documented "serious violations" of international humanitarian law by both the Israeli military and Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas.
He reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinians "arbitrarily detained".
He reiterated a call for an immediate ceasefire and for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and of Palestinians "arbitrarily detained".
Ceasefire talks resumed in Qatar on Thursday.
Ceasefire talks resumed in Qatar on Thursday.
In response to Turk's statement, Israel's mission in Geneva accused his office of "once again spreading Hamas' propaganda, voluntarily refusing to differentiate between terrorists and civilians".
In response to Turk's statement, Israel's mission in Geneva accused his office of "once again spreading Hamas' propaganda, voluntarily refusing to differentiate between terrorists and civilians".
"For nearly 20 years, Hamas has turned Gaza into a terrorist stronghold. Its brutal strategy is clear: hide behind Palestinian civilians to target Israelis," it said.
"For nearly 20 years, Hamas has turned Gaza into a terrorist stronghold. Its brutal strategy is clear: hide behind Palestinian civilians to target Israelis," it said.
"Lives lost on both sides are a victory for Hamas. Today's statement only emboldens Hamas and encourages them to continue their disinformation campaign."
"Lives lost on both sides are a victory for Hamas. Today's statement only emboldens Hamas and encourages them to continue their disinformation campaign."
© Agence France-Presse
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