The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed shock and disgust at remarks made by Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, suggesting that starving the population of Gaza could be justified to free Israeli hostages held by Palestinian fighters. The comments, condemned by Turk’s spokesman, Jeremy Laurence, were deemed as incitement to hatred against innocent civilians and a violation of international law.
Smotrich’s controversial statements regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where nearly 2.4 million people are facing food shortages due to restrictions on aid, raised concerns about the ethical and legal implications of using starvation as a method of warfare. The UN has called for an immediate end to such rhetoric and for investigations into any possible war crimes.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with the majority of its population displaced and in need of assistance, Turk’s office remains committed to upholding human rights and ensuring accountability for those who commit crimes against civilians.