The UN’s human rights chief said that the “darkest moments” of the Gaza war are unfolding in the northern part of the territory. Israel has claimed to be waging a ground operation to prevent Hamas fighters re-grouping.
Volker Turk stated that “Israeli military is currently subjecting a whole population to bombings, sieges and the risk of starvation,” as he spoke.
He called on leaders around the world to act, stating that states have a duty to ensure international humanitarian law is respected under the Geneva Conventions.
Israel’s military did not immediately respond, but they have stated that their troops have killed “hundreds” of terrorists and evacuated 45,000 civilians in Jabalia after returning to the area on the 6th October.
The head of the World Health Organization said he was deeply concerned by reports that Israeli soldiers had raided a hospital in northern Gaza.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the WHO lost contact with Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia which was overflowing at almost 200 patients during the offensive in Jabalia.
Israel’s military claimed that its forces were operating in the area based on intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists. The Gaza-based Hamas health ministry confirmed that Israeli troops had detained displaced persons, staff, and patients.
Since Israeli forces returned to Jabalia, hundreds of Palestinians were reported killed and tens or thousands of Palestinians displaced.
Residents who refuse or are unable to comply to Israeli evacuation orders live in increasingly desperate circumstances, with food and essential supplies running low.
The UN human rights chief warned Friday that the entire population in northern Gaza is being subjected “non-stop bombing”, with hundreds of thousands of people being ordered to leave without any guarantees of return.
Turk: “The situation is getting worse and worse every day.”
“The Israeli government’s policies and practices in the northern Gaza area risk emptying out the entire Palestinian population.” We are dealing with what could be atrocity crimes and even crimes against humanity.
He said that it was also totally unacceptable for Palestinian armed groups to be operating among civilians and even inside shelters for displaced people, putting them at risk.
Turk said that countries all over the world, who are parties to the Geneva Conventions, must act now to enforce them.
“These are universally recognized and binding standards developed to preserve the bare minimum of human dignity.” I implore that you put the protection of civilians and human rights before anything else and not abandon this minimum of humanity,” said he.
Turk also said that all states are legally obligated to prevent genocide when there is a risk. Senior UN figures have largely avoided using the word genocide when referring to Gaza until now.
Israel has accused the UN for years of bias and denied accusations that its forces committed war crimes. It has also vehemently denounced accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza against Palestinians.
Gaza’s Health Ministry said in a Friday morning statement that Israeli forces “stormed” Kamal Adwan Hospital and were detaining dozens of patients, medical personnel and displaced persons inside.
The ministry reported that in the afternoon, displaced men were forced to remove their clothing and some had been arrested.
It added that a number of medical staff including the director of hospital Dr Hussam Ab Safiya had not been heard from after they were summoned by Israeli forces to the courtyard.
A video posted late Thursday night on social media showed Dr Abu Safiya talking on the phone while walking through an occupied ward. The ceiling and window of the ward appeared to have been damaged.
“Instead we receive tanks.” He says that tanks are shelling the building.
Eid Sabbah said in a voice message to Reuters early Friday morning: “At midnight the occupation army bulldozers and tanks reached the hospital. As [Israeli forces] opened fire on the hospital, they began terrorizing civilians, injured people and children.
He said that the Israeli forces fled when a WHO delegation arrived with an ambulance to evacuate some patients. He said that tanks returned to the area and opened fire on the hospital, damaging its oxygen supplies, before troops launched a raid, ordering staff and patients to evacuate.
The Ministry of Health reported that two children died in the intensive-care unit after the hospital generators stopped and oxygen stations were hit, but no similar reports came from the WHO or the medical profession.
The Israeli military claimed it was unaware of a tank that fired at the hospital.
Dr Tedros confirmed a WHO team reached the hospital Thursday night “midway through hostilities in the area” and transferred 23 patients with 26 caregivers to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. They also delivered blood, trauma and surgery supplies.
He added that the UN agency has lost contact with the staff at the hospital ever since the raid was reported.
“Kamal Adwan Hospital is overflowing, with close to 200 patients. This is a constant flow of horrific trauma cases. “It is also full of thousands of people who are seeking shelter,” he warned.
“We demand an immediate ceasefire, and protection for hospitals, patients, medical professionals, and humanitarians.”
In a press release, the Israeli military stated that its forces “operated in the area of Kamal Adwan Hospital at Jabalia based on intelligence regarding the presence terrorists and terrorist infrastructures in the area”.
“In the weeks prior to the operation, [forces] assisted the evacuation of patients while maintaining emergency services,” the statement added.
On Friday, the Israeli military chief of staff visited Jabalia to tell troops that they are beating Hamas.
General Herzi Halevi stated: “Because of our betterment, we have more justification and also because we’re stronger – yet another achievement Jabalia falls.”
Ayman Safadi, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, urged US Secretary Antony Blinken on Monday to exert pressure on Israel regarding the deteriorating human situation and the mass displacement of civilians in northern Jordan.
“We see ethnic cleansing in northern Gaza, and it has to stop,” he said as he opened a meeting held in London.
Many Palestinians think that the Israeli military is implementing the so-called “Generals’ Plan” in the north. This plan would see the forced relocation of all the estimated 400,000 civilians to the south, followed by a siege on any remaining Hamas militants.
The Israeli military denied that they had such a plan, and said that it was ensuring that civilians were kept out of harm’s ways.
Safadi warned that the Middle East was on the “brink” of regional conflict, adding that the situation was worsening every time he met Blinken, “not because we are not trying, but because the Israeli government is not listening to anyone, and this has to stop”.
“The only way to save the region is for Israel stop the aggressions against Gaza, Lebanon, stop unilateral actions, illegal measures in West Bank. This is also pushing the condition to an abyss,” said he.
Blinken met with Arab foreign ministers and leaders in the UK after a diplomatic tour to the Middle East.
US believed to be working on plan for post conflict Gaza, trying get buy-ins from Arab countries despite progress on ceasefire and hostage agreement for Gaza being stalled since weeks.
Blinken said that he was in important conversations “on ending war in Gaza and charting the path for what is next”. He said that there was “a real urgency” in achieving a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Israel in Lebanon and Hezbollah.
Israel announced on Thursday that it would send its head of Mossad, the intelligence agency, to Doha to meet with the CIA director as well as Qatar’s Prime Minister in Doha to discuss the restarting of the Gaza ceasefire talks and the release hostages.
This came after a Hamas delegation met Egyptian security officials at Cairo. Hamas stated that its conditions for a deal had not changed, including the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Israel launched a campaign against Hamas as a response to the group’s unprecedented attack in southern Israel on 7th October 2023. In that attack, approximately 1,200 people died and 251 were taken hostage.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, more than 42,840 Palestinians have died in Gaza since that time.