New York, SANA- The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk called on Israel to immediately and unhinderedly allow sufficient humanitarian aid to reach civilians in need in Gaza Strip to avoid further suffering and loss of life.

“The images of people starving in Gaza are heart-rending and intolerable. That we have reached this stage is an affront to our collective humanity,” he said.

Turk stressed that this serves as yet another reminder that the violence must end once and for all, adding: “Saving lives must be everyone’s priority.”

He Pointed out that Israel continues to restrict severely humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza, the rights chief urged Israel to immediately allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of sufficient amounts of humanitarian relief for civilians.

“Denying civilians access to food may amount to a war crime, as well as potentially a crime against humanity,” Turk warned.

In a related context, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that reports indicate that many people continue to be killed and injured in Gaza, including those searching for food along routes used by UN convoys, as a result of being targeted by Israeli forces.

The United Nations continues to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid to reach approximately 2.4 million Palestinians in the Strip, who are living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions as a result of the war of starvation and genocide waged by the Israeli occupation on the Strip since October 7, 2023.

Nisreen Othman / Manar Salameh