United Nations human rights chief Volker Türk on Wednesday called for greater respect for international law and the protection of civilians trapped in conflict zones around the world.
During a press briefing, Türk said youth-led protests against corruption and inequality in Serbia, Bangladesh, Nepal and Madagascar reflect a growing global demand to reinforce human rights. He said the vast majority of people care about human rights and reject cruelty, but noted that many advocates feel isolated from each other.
Addressing ongoing crises, Türk reiterated deep concern over the situation in Gaza, where Palestinians are restricted to about 30% of the territory. He noted that Palestinians face severe shortages of food and essential services while continuing to be killed by Israeli forces. Following Israel’s election on Tuesday, he urged the incoming government to change its course of warfare and respect international humanitarian law.
The official rejected accusations that the United Nations only condemns Israel, stating that it has repeatedly denounced the Oct. 7 attacks. He said the organization closely monitors abuses by Hamas and Palestinian authorities, expressing particular concern over reports of extrajudicial executions by Hamas militants.
Asked about the organization’s leverage regarding aid flows with the future Israeli government, Türk said monitoring activities in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria are extremely important. He said this monitoring keeps decision-making factual and ensures the world is properly informed.
Turning to Ukraine, Türk warned that civilian casualties could reach their highest levels since 2022 amid intensified drone warfare. He noted that attacks on electricity grids are particularly devastating for older people and people with disabilities, and have been compounded by strikes on railway infrastructure and supermarkets. He urged greater attention to human rights in ceasefire and peace negotiations.
Türk also addressed Houthi attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Saudi airports. He said targeting sites that are not clearly military targets raises questions about potential war crimes. Additionally, he called on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release 71 detained United Nations workers, citing reports of extremely dire conditions in their detention centers.