NEW YORK (Palestine Foundation Information Center) The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has declared that the forcible transfer of Gaza’s civilian population amounts to a war crime and constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
In a statement issued on Friday, Türk called for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, urging Israel to cease its obstruction of humanitarian aid and refrain from any actions that may constitute war crimes.
He expressed grave concern over the shrinking space available for civilians in Gaza, who have been subjected to forced displacement and military evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army since the resumption of its military campaign on 18 March. These operations have affected broad areas across all governorates, including the forced evacuation of half the northern part of the Strip, and have resulted in tens of thousands of civilians being trapped in Khan Yunis and Rafah.
The current military offensive, now in its eleventh consecutive day, marks a resumption of Israel’s brutal campaign, following its breach of the fragile 57-day ceasefire. The assault, carried out with explicit US support, continued Arab silence, and blatant international double standards have drawn widespread condemnation from human rights observers.
Türk’s statement highlights the urgent need for accountability and adherence to international law, as the civilian population of Gaza faces ongoing displacement, bombardment, and deprivation in what many legal experts warn may amount to acts of collective punishment and crimes against humanity.
