Latest news with #UNHumanRights
Shafaq News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Gaza death toll climbs as pressure builds to end Israeli war
Shafaq News – Gaza At least 77 Palestinians were killed and 376 injured in the past 24 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry reported on Tuesday, as local and international pressure intensifies to stop Israeli airstrikes and ground operations across the enclave. The ministry said the overall death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has reached 59,106, with more than 142,500 wounded, including 1,026 people killed and 6,563 injured while attempting to access humanitarian aid. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the latest Israeli bombings and forced evacuations in Deir al-Balah, warning they are crippling essential infrastructure and accelerating Gaza's humanitarian collapse. #Gaza: Israel's latest displacement orders & intensive attacks on Deir El Balah add more misery to the suffering of hungry seemed the nightmare couldn't possibly get worse. And yet it must be an immediate end to the killings & destruction.… — UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) July 22, 2025 He stressed that as the occupying power, Israel is legally bound to guarantee access to food, medicine, and services, not obstruct them, while cautioning that mass displacement under occupation could amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the situation in Gaza as 'unbearable,' demanding unimpeded humanitarian access and full compliance with international law. Civilians cannot be targets. images from Gaza are EU reiterates its call for the free, safe and swift flow of humanitarian for the full respect of international and humanitarian in Gaza have suffered too much, for too long.… — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 22, 2025 She urged Israel to remove all restrictions on aid delivery, asserting that civilians must never be targeted and that the suffering in Gaza must end immediately. At the regional level, the Arab League, meeting under Jordan's chairmanship, denounced Israel's use of starvation as a weapon, labeling it 'genocide' and calling for urgent international action to stop the assault and lift the blockade. The League also demanded legal accountability for Israel's actions, rejecting unofficial aid mechanisms like the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. القرارات الصادرة عن مجلس جامعة الدول العربية الذي اجتمع اليوم لمناقشة التحرك السياسي والدبلوماسي لمواجهة سياسية التجويع والحصار للشعب الفلسطيني في #غزة كسلاح إبادة جماعية، ومخططات حكومة الاحتلال بسحب صلاحيات بلدية الخليل في المسجد الإبراهيمي ومحيطه. — جامعة الدول العربية (@arableague_gs) July 22, 2025
CBC
21-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Canada joins allies in demanding Israel stop 'dangerous' aid delivery in Gaza
Social Sharing Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and 24 of her counterparts abroad have signed a joint statement saying "the war in Gaza must end now," while calling on Israel to stop displacing Palestinians. The signatories — who include the foreign ministers of France, Japan and the U.K., as well as the European Union commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management — called Israel's aid distribution system "dangerous." The ministers also condemned Hamas for continuing to hold hostages captured from Israel in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and called for their immediate release. They said it's "horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid." That death toll is based on figures released by the UN Human Rights Office. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths. The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food," the ministers wrote. The ministers decry proposals by Israeli officials to concentrate Palestinians in Gaza into one city. "Permanent forced displacement is a violation of international humanitarian law," the statement notes. It also takes aim at the Israeli government's proposed expansion of settlements in the Palestinian territories it occupies, particularly as it seeks to divide the West Bank from East Jerusalem. This would "critically undermine the two-state solution," the statement said, noting an increase in the building of settlements that Canada considers illegal, at a time when "settler violence against Palestinians has soared." Israel rejects statement Oren Marmorstein, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry, said Israel rejects the joint statement, calling it "disconnected from reality" and saying it "sends the wrong message to Hamas." "The statement fails to focus the pressure on Hamas and fails to recognize Hamas's role and responsibility for the situation. Hamas is the sole party responsible for the continuation of the war and the suffering on both sides," Marmorstein wrote in a social media statement. "At these sensitive moments in the ongoing negotiations, it is better to avoid statements of this kind." Marmorstein said that Hamas is solely to blame for the lack of movement on a ceasefire and on releasing the hostages. He accused Hamas of "deliberately" increasing tensions and civilian harm at humanitarian aid stations. WATCH | Weekend attacks near aid sites kill at least 85: Attacks near aid sites kill at least 85 in Gaza 16 hours ago The ministers who signed the statement are calling on the Israeli government to lift all restrictions on aid delivery and to "enable the UN and humanitarian NGOs" to do their work safely and effectively. Most of the food supplies Israel has allowed into Gaza go to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American contractor backed by Israel. Witnesses and health officials say that since the group's operations began in late May, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire while trying to reach aid distribution sites. Israel blocked aid for three months before setting up GHF sites, effectively shutting down hundreds of sites that had been operated by international agencies across Gaza. Israel says it had to take this step to prevent aid from reaching Hamas, which had been selling vital supplies and food to pay its fighters. But UN agencies say this was not happening to a large extent. While the United States, Qatar and Egypt did not sign the letter, the ministers who did sign say they support the efforts of those three countries to negotiate a ceasefire. The U.S. and Germany were the only G7 countries that did not endorse the statement. In addition to Canada, the signatories include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The signatories added they are prepared to take "further action to support an immediate ceasefire" and establish a political pathway to peace in the region.
Scoop
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Türk Calls For Immediate Steps To Ensure Protection Of People In Suweida And Across Syria
GENEVA (18 July 2025) – Syria's interim authorities must ensure accountability and justice for the killings and other gross human rights violations and abuses in the southern city of Suweida, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said today, repeating his call for a new Syria that works for all its people, equal in dignity and without discrimination. Credible reports received by the UN Human Rights Office indicate widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings, kidnappings, destruction of private property and looting of homes. Among the reported perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim authorities, as well as other armed elements from the area, including Druze and Bedouins. This has led to a mass displacement of the population in the predominantly Druze governorate. 'This bloodshed and the violence must stop, and the protection of all people must be the utmost priority, in line with international human rights law,' Türk said. 'There must be independent, prompt and transparent investigations into all violations, and those responsible must be held to account, in accordance with international standards. Incitement to violence and hate speech, both online and offline, must also be stopped. 'It is crucial that immediate steps are taken to prevent recurrence of such violence. Revenge and vengeance are not the answer.' In one incident, on 15 July, the UN Human Rights Office documented the unlawful killing of at least 13 people when armed individuals affiliated with the interim authorities deliberately opened fire at a family gathering. On the same day, they reportedly summarily executed six men near their homes in two separate incidents. The Office has also documented the public humiliation of a Druze man, including the forcible shaving of his moustache, an important cultural symbol for the Druze community. In all, hundreds have been reportedly killed since 12 July. 'My Office has received accounts of distressed Syrians who are living in fear for their lives and those of their loved ones,' said the High Commissioner. 'The deployment of State security forces should bring safety and protection, not add to the fear and violence.' He also raised concerns regarding reports of civilian casualties resulting from Israel's airstrikes on Suweida, Daraa and in the centre of Damascus. 'Attacks such as the one on Damascus on Wednesday pose great risks to civilians and civilian objects. Such attacks must cease,' the High Commissioner said. Türk called for a thorough, urgent and independent vetting process to ensure that those responsible for human rights violations and abuses are not integrated into Syria's official security or military structures. 'This is a vital step in rebuilding public trust and advancing Syria's broader transition,' he said. He also called on the Syrian interim authorities to publish the results of the national fact-finding committee's investigations into the violence in coastal areas earlier this year. 'Impartial and thorough investigations into the recent violence would also strengthen the ongoing wider transitional justice process to ensure accountability for past violations and abuses,' the High Commissioner added. 'Syrians deserve truth, accountability, and guarantees that such violations will not be repeated.' 'With the fall of the former government, Syrians have witnessed a moment of hope for a better future based on human rights. It is the responsibility of the interim authorities to demonstrate that this chapter will be defined by rights, justice, and equal protection for all.'
AsiaOne
14-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Russia attacks west Ukraine with drones and missiles, kills 2, World News
KYIV — Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles on Saturday (July 12), in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russia's aerial strikes demands swift decisions — and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1,343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40 km from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window." [[nid:719858]]
The Advertiser
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Russia hammers west Ukraine with drones and missiles
Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russia's aerial strikes demands swift decisions – and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40km from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window." Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russia's aerial strikes demands swift decisions – and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40km from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window." Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russia's aerial strikes demands swift decisions – and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40km from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window." Russia pounded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in the fourth major attack this month, targeting western cities and killing at least two people in Chernivtsi on the border with Romania. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said that Russia launched 597 drones and 26 missiles, killing two people, wounding 20, and damaging civilian infrastructure from Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast to Lviv, Lutsk, and Chernivtsi in the west. Ukrainian air defence units shot down 25 missiles and 319 Shahed drones and jammed 258 other drones with electronic warfare, the air force said. "The pace of Russia's aerial strikes demands swift decisions – and it can be curbed now by sanctions," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app, issuing a fresh call for tough sanctions on Russia and more air defence for Ukraine. "This war can only be stopped through strength. We expect not just signals from our partners, but actions that will save lives." The attack is the latest in a series of massive aerial strikes over recent weeks. Russia has significantly ramped up its drones and missile strikes on Ukraine since June. The UN Human Rights monitoring mission in Ukraine said that June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 killed and 1343 injured. Ukraine's Western cities of Lviv, Lutsk and Chernivtsi suffered the most during the overnight attack, officials said. Ruslan Zaparaniuk, the governor of the Chernivetskyi region, said that a 26-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man were killed and 14 others wounded as Russian drones and a missile struck the city, located about 40km from Ukraine's border with Romania. Several fires broke out across the city, and residential houses and administrative buildings were damaged, regional officials said. In the city of Lviv, on Ukraine's border with Poland, 46 residential houses, a university building, the city's courts, and about 20 buildings housing small and medium-sized businesses were damaged in the attack, the mayor said. "Windows and doors were blown out. Curtains fell, TV set was hurled. The apartment is covered in glass shards. It is horrible," Oleh Sidorov, 64, told Reuters in Lviv. "I want to clean the apartment. But I do not know how I will sleep during the night, there is no window."
