By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - The UN human rights chief warned Saturday that bombing the telecommunications infrastructure places civilians in the Gaza Strip in "grave danger."
"Last night’s bombardment and ground operations in Gaza by Israeli forces were reportedly the most intensive yet, taking this terrible crisis to a new level of violence and pain," Volker Turk said in a statement.
"Compounding the misery and suffering of civilians, Israeli strikes on telecommunications installations and subsequent Internet shutdown have effectively left Gazans with no way of knowing what is happening across Gaza and cut them off from the outside world," said Turk.
He reminded all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights laws.
"The bombing of the telecommunications infrastructure places the civilian population in grave danger," he said, adding that ambulances and civil defense teams are no longer able to locate the injured, or the thousands estimated to be still under the rubble.
Civilians are no longer able to receive updated information on where they can access humanitarian relief and where they may be in less danger, he said, while journalists can no longer report on the situation.
Noting that the human rights office lost contact with staff in Gaza, he said: "There is no safe place in Gaza and there is no way out. I am very worried for my colleagues, as I am for all civilians in Gaza."
In view of the way military operations have been carried out in the context of the 56-year occupation, he voiced concern about Israel’s ground operation which began Friday.
"I am raising alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die," he said.
Underlining that continued violence is "not the answer," he urged all parties as well as third states with influence over the parties to the conflict, "to do all in their power to de-escalate this conflict, and to work toward the goal where Israelis and Palestinians can fully enjoy all human rights and live side by side, in peace."
The Israeli army on Friday widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by Hamas on Oct. 7. International aid agencies said they lost contact with staff in Gaza after Israel knocked out internet and communications.
At least 7,703 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli attacks. Some 70% of the Palestinian deaths are women and children, according to official figures.
The death toll in Israel stands at more than 1,400.
Gaza's 2.3 million residents are grappling with shortages of food, water, and medicine due to Israel’s massive air bombardment and total blockade of the enclave.
The UN General Assembly called for an immediate humanitarian truce, with 120 states voting for a resolution put forward by Jordan.
Israel, however, rejected the resolution.