logo
'Barrage of bombs': UN human rights chief accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

'Barrage of bombs': UN human rights chief accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

First Post18-05-2025

UN human rights chief Volker Türk alleged that the Israeli campaign was aimed at denying humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and displacing the local population read more
A Palestinian walks past a rubble of houses destroyed during Israel's offensive, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, March 13, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
A whopping 140 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the last 24 hours as Israel presses ahead with its fresh offensive in Gaza, prompting renewed allegations of ethnic cleansing.
Local health officials claim that more than 300 people have perished since the Israeli campaign resumed last Thursday (May 15), ushering in one of the deadliest periods in the war since ceasefire talks broke down in March.
'Since midnight, we have received 58 martyrs, while a large number of victims remain under the rubble. The situation inside the hospital is catastrophic,' Marwan al-Sultan, the director of the Indonesian hospital in northern Gaza said Saturday (May 17).
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
UN condemns dramatic escalation
The escalation by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) was condemned by the UN human rights chief on Friday.
Volker Türk alleged that the Israeli campaign was aimed at denying humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and displacing the local population, which he said was equivalent to ethnic cleansing.
'This latest barrage of bombs … and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing,' he said.
UN Secretary General António Guterres echoed similar sentiments. While speaking at an Arab League summit in Baghdad on Saturday, Guterres called for a permanent ceasefire and lasting peace.
Israel's justification
Israel claims that the expanded operation in Gaza is a part of Operation Gideon's Chariots, which is meant to 'achieve all of the war goals in Gaza'. The strikes and accompanying mass mobilisation of troops along Gaza's borders indicate that Israel may be moving towards establishing 'operational control' of parts of the besieged territory.
A ceasefire that began in January fell apart in mid-March when Israel did not proceed to the planned second phase, which could have ended the conflict. The chance of a lasting peace seemed even more unlikely when Israel's security cabinet approved plans in early May that might involve taking over the entire Gaza Strip.
Arab league summit
The Arab League summit , held on Saturday, focused heavily on the Gaza ceasefire talks. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein mentioned that the attending ministers would support a reconstruction plan for Gaza, differing from Trump's proposal to take control of the Palestinian territory. The ministers later committed $40 million for rebuilding efforts in Gaza and Lebanon.
On Saturday, Hamas announced that new ceasefire talks with Israel had started in Doha, Qatar. A Hamas official, Taher al-Nono, told Reuters that both sides were discussing all issues without any preconditions.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission
'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

'There were acts of mistreatment': French doctor claims that Greta Thunberg was mistreated by Israeli forces during Gaza aid mission

Greta Thunberg (Image credits: X/@benonwine) A French doctor who was aboard a humanitarian aid boat bound for Gaza has accused Israeli authorities of mistreating passengers, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, after the vessel was intercepted at sea. Dr Baptiste André, one of the 12 people on the Madleen, said passengers were mocked, deprived of sleep, and given limited access to food and water while in Israeli custody. 'I don't have the legal qualifications to specify what happened, but there were acts of mistreatment,' he told reporters upon arriving in France. The Madleen, organised by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Italy on June 1 to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza amid a worsening blockade. It was intercepted by Israeli naval forces roughly 200 kilometres from the Gaza coast. Four passengers, including Thunberg, signed deportation documents and were sent back home, while eight others remain in Israeli custody awaiting a court hearing. Thunberg, 22, accused Israel of forcibly detaining the activists in international waters. 'This is yet another intentional violation of rights that is added to the list of countless other violations that Israel is committing,' she said upon arriving at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. Israel's government dismissed the voyage as a publicity stunt, labelling the vessel a 'selfie yacht' and accusing it of breaching its naval blockade on Gaza. Thunberg described the voyage as a peaceful protest against Israel's blockade, which she said is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Watch: Houthi missile nearly strikes civilian jet, intercepted mid-air over Israel
Watch: Houthi missile nearly strikes civilian jet, intercepted mid-air over Israel

India Today

time2 hours ago

  • India Today

Watch: Houthi missile nearly strikes civilian jet, intercepted mid-air over Israel

A tragedy was narrowly avoided on Tuesday evening after a ballistic missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels nearly struck a civilian aircraft flying over Israel. According to Israel's military war room, the missile was successfully intercepted in midair by Israeli defence systems."A Houthi ballistic missile launched at Israeli civilians nearly hit a civilian plane. If not for the competence of Israeli air defences, there could have been a mass casualty event caused by Iranian-backed terrorists," the Israeli warroom stated in a post on X, sharing a video of the incident. The footage shows the plane passing by moments before the missile was intercepted.#WATCH: Earlier today, a Houthi ballistic missile launched at Israeli civilians nearly hit a civilian plane. If not for the competence of Israeli air defenses, there could have been a mass casualty event caused by Iranian-backed terrorists. Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) June 11, 2025advertisement"The missile fired at Israel on Tuesday broke up into multiple parts after being hit by an interceptor, leading the Israeli Air Force to launch additional interceptors to shoot down the fragments," a military official said as quoted by The Times of Israel. According to reports, at least seven interceptors were used during the mission. The Iran-backed Houthis took responsibility for the attack. They claimed that to have launched two ballistic missiles at Ben Gurion Airport in central the past, partially intercepted Houthi missiles have led to casualties when remaining warhead fragments landed in populated RESPONDS WITH FIRST NAVAL STRIKE ON YEMENThe attack set off air raid sirens throughout central Israel, the Jerusalem area, southern West Bank, and parts of southern Israel. Residents in impacted areas received a long-range missile warning via mobile alerts two minutes prior to the sirens. Five minutes before the sirens sounded, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also issued a notice to the January 2025, Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire, but the Houthis continued to fire. They had fired more than 40 ballistic missiles, dozens of drones and cruise missiles. One of those missiles killed a civilian and injured multiple others in Tel Aviv in July, which prompted Israel to launch its first strike in Houthis have fired at least 11 drones and 48 ballistic missiles at Israel since the IDF's assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip resumed on March Watch

Federal judge says Donald Trump cannot detain Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil, then does this...
Federal judge says Donald Trump cannot detain Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil, then does this...

Mint

time3 hours ago

  • Mint

Federal judge says Donald Trump cannot detain Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil, then does this...

A US federal judge passed a ruling on Wednesday stating that the Donald Trump administration cannot keep using US foreign policy interests as a means to justify the detention of Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. However, he then delayed the release order, saying that the ruling will not come into effect until Friday, according to a Reuters report. Judge Michael Farbiarz was quoted saying in his order that the ruling would not immediately take effect, and that the administration has until 9:30 am Friday to respond to this latest ruling. This new ruling comes soon after another order passed last Thursday, preventing the Trump administration from arresting a Columbia University student, Yunseo Chung, 21, whom it is seeking to detain and deport to South Korea ever she participated in a pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier this year. According to reports, Chung never lived in South Korea since she was 7 years of age. Meanwhile, in another development, Noor Abdalla, 28, wife of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, was interviewed by Reuters, after which she appeared for a portrait.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store