Gaza Herald – Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that Israeli forces have killed more than 1,300 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025. He noted that these deaths occurred through daily attacks despite the passage of approximately one year since the agreement took effect.
Turk delivered these remarks on Monday during the opening of the sixty-third session of the UN Human Rights Council at the organization’s office in Geneva. He emphasized that Israel continues to restrict the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.
The UN official expressed shock over Israeli proposals aimed at displacing all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. He strongly criticized the continuous inhumane rhetoric used by some Israeli officials regarding Palestinians, describing such language as deeply concerning and contrary to international humanitarian standards.
Furthermore, Turk pointed out that Israel continues its annexation operations in the occupied West Bank, defying a clear decision by the International Court of Justice. He urged member states to take action to prevent the entrenchment of occupation in lands designated for Palestinians within the framework of a two-state solution.
The High Commissioner called on countries to halt arms exports to Israel. He also urged companies to end business practices that support Israeli settlements, stressing the need for global accountability and adherence to international law to protect human rights in the region.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
