UPDATES WITH MORE REMARKS, BRIEFING TO MEMBER STATES
By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - A UN Security Council resolution demanding urgent humanitarian pauses in Gaza "has to be implemented at once," the UN High commissioner for human rights said on Thursday.
Responding to Anadolu's question regarding the resolution adopted on Wednesday, Volker Turk said: "It (the resolution) needs to be implemented immediately."
His remarks came during a media stakeout in Geneva following his briefing to member states on his visit to the Middle East.
"It's the beginning of what is needed to act to mitigate the extremely precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza," Turk said. "So, it has to be implemented at once."
He said that the resolution has also included a monitoring mechanism.
The high commissioner said that besides the implementation of the UN Security Council resolution there "must also be a cease-fire based on humanitarian and human rights grounds."
The fighting must stop, Turk said, not only to deliver the urgently needed basic necessities of life, electricity, water, fuel, but also to create the political space "for a path out of this horror."
"There has been a breakdown of the most basic respect for human values, the killing of so many civilians cannot be dismissed as collateral damage," he said.
He stressed the need for justice, accountability, and a strong voice for human rights during these times and said: “Our work to report and document violations, and our advocacy for human rights will persevere until this voice is heard.”
During his briefing to member states on his visit to the Middle East, the UN rights chief called for an international probe into the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
"Extremely serious allegations of multiple and profound breaches of international humanitarian law, whoever commits them, demand rigorous investigation and full accountability," Turk said.
"Where national authorities prove unwilling or unable to carry out such investigations, and where there are contested narratives on particularly significant incidents, international investigation is called for," he added.
Following his speech, ambassadors of the member states who joined the briefing also made brief remarks.
Türkiye said the international human rights architecture has collapsed due to the ongoing violence in Gaza. The country stressed that the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights cannot be celebrated while Gaza has "turned into a children's cemetery."
The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a draft resolution calling for "urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors" throughout Gaza as 12 countries voted in favor of the resolution spearheaded by Malta, while the US, the UK and Russia abstained from voting.
The resolution also calls for the release of all hostages being held by Hamas and other groups, especially children.
Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.
At least 11,500 Palestinians have been killed, including around 7,900 women and children, and over 29,800 others injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities.
Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have been damaged or destroyed in the Israeli offensive.
The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, stands at 1,200, according to official figures.