UN human rights Chief, Volker Turk has begun a five-day visit to the Middle East to discuss violations taking place during Israel’s war in Gaza.

Volker Turk is in Cairo and will visit Rafah, on Egypt’s border with Gaza, on Wednesday, November 8, 2023, before he travels to Jordan’s capital Amman the next day, his office said.

He was due to meet with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, as well as representatives of regional civil society organizations, and the head of the Arab League.

“It has been one full month of carnage, of incessant suffering, bloodshed, destruction, outrage and despair,” Turk said in a statement.

He added, “Human rights violations are at the root of this escalation and human rights play a central role in finding a way out of this vortex of pain.”

Turk’s visit to the region “takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing, extremely serious human rights and humanitarian crisis,” his office said.

During his visit, the UN rights chief is due to engage with government officials, civil society actors, victims and UN colleagues on the human rights situation in the region, the statement said.

In a post on X, the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA decried Israel’s actions in Gaza.

“For 1 month, people across Gaza Strip have been denied aid, killed & bombed out of their homes. Daily struggles to find bread & water. Blackouts cut people off from loved ones & the rest of the world.

“This is forced displacement & humanitarian tragedy of colossal proportions.”
UNRWA

A spokesperson for the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that Gaza has been “left alone” to deal with an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as 16 out of 35 hospitals are out of service and more are running out of fuel.

“The international community must allow the entry of non-stop humanitarian aid in Gaza including fuel,” Nebal Farsakh told a news agency.

The PRCS, which runs al-Quds Hospital, said the facility is operating despite a grave shortage of medicines and fuel. No aid has been allowed to enter the northern part of the Strip, while only a limited amount has reached the south.

So far, Israel has opposed the entry of any fuel in Gaza, which is needed to power hospital generators as well as ambulances and aid trucks.

“Fuel means life now. We are hours from a complete shutdown of all hospitals,” Farsakh said.

Meanwhile, the Rantisi Specialized Hospital for children with cancer has been sharply warned by the Israeli army to evacuate immediately.

In another development, Yoav Gallant, the Israeli Defence Minister asserted that at the end of the war, the Israeli army will have full freedom of action in Gaza without limitations on operations.

Speaking at a special session of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, Gallant added, “The security system under my leadership is focused on two key things: Victory in the war and returning the hostages.”

His comments come after Netanyahu noted in an interview that Israel would take responsibility for security in Gaza for an “indefinite period.”

Russia Calls For Humanitarian Pause

Also on Tuesday, Russia called for “humanitarian pauses” in Israel’s military operation at Gaza, describing the situation for civilians there as “catastrophic.”

Kremlin Spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov told a media briefing that Moscow will continue contacts with Israel, Egypt and the Palestinians to help ensure humanitarian supplies can be delivered into Gaza.

“The Russian Federation is in daily contact with Israel and other Middle Eastern countries at the working level, there are no high-level contacts planned yet,” said Peskov.

“Russian diplomats continue to work on the return of Russian citizens from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone,” he added.