UN debate on Israel’s targeting of civilians in Gaza is ‘urgent’ need, says international alliance

An international alliance of humanitarian organisations, associations, groups of engaged individuals calling for peace and security, and citizens of the world supporting peace and justice have urged UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk to indicate clearly and advocate for the required immediate action to protect Palestinian civilians who are subjected to inhumane treatment in all of the Gaza Strip. This, said the alliance in a letter to Turk, is within his own mandate in UN General Assembly Resolution 48/141, as well as through his convening power regarding independent human rights mechanisms through the OHCHR.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of Sunday night’s unbearable images of civilians burned alive, bombed while asleep in their tents,” explained the signatories. “We cannot remain silent either when we see patients in the north of Gaza denied their basic universal rights, specifically their right to health and to access healthcare.”

The suffering of the Palestinian civilians, they said, is encapsulated in the image of 19- year-old Shaaban Ahmad Al-Dalu, a young software engineering student, burnt alive in his bed while attached to an intravenous drip in Al-Aqsa Hospital grounds.

READ: WHO calls for protection of hospitals in Gaza

“Like many Palestinians from Gaza, he was displaced with his family from northern Gaza to the centre of the enclave, their house was destroyed and members of his family were killed, and he and his mother Alaa were killed by Israeli bombs in the most horrific way. Our hearts break over and over as we listen to his screams.”

This was not just shocking imagery, they added. “His scream was the scream of the whole Palestinian people and we cannot stay silent.”

The signatories of the letter to the UN official include 44 organisations and more than 2,000 individuals, with the numbers increasing daily. They all urged Turk to convene an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council and invite all relevant human rights mechanisms to discuss this issue with states who should take “urgent and immediate” action.

“Over the past ten days, the north of Gaza has witnessed unprecedented levels of intentional targeting of civilians, especially in the Jabalia refugee camp that is under siege, with forced displacement and continuous bombing. Moreover, we are particularly concerned by the forced evacuations of hospitals under Israeli military orders.”

Israel has issued 24-hour evacuation orders for the Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and Al-Awda Hospitals.

According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, there are direct threats of destruction and violence if these orders are not complied with.

The purpose of their letter, said the signatories, is to call for urgent action by OHCHR to be coordinated with the relevant human rights mechanisms whose voice will only be heard by member states if Turk convenes the suggested urgent meeting at the Human Rights Council, something that is within the scope of his role and responsibilities.

“Individual and fragmented voices and mere lip service are an insult to the dignity of the victims and a blow to the credibility of human rights norms and institutions. We urge you to live up to the threat that the Palestinian people are facing, particularly the most vulnerable, such as patients in intensive care units who are also obliged to evacuate hospitals.”

Some of the signatories, they said, are in direct communication with Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, and he pleads for assistance as over 600 hundred patients at his hospital, including children, are facing certain death, especially because the hospital is under siege.

“On behalf of Dr Abu Safiya, we are calling on OHCHR whose mandate is to protect human rights universally and without discrimination. In this case, we are seeking to prevent the large-scale death of patients inside Kamal Adwan, Indonesian and Al-Awda Hospitals who cannot be moved due to their critical condition and because there is no corridor of safe passage provided.”

The letter noted the fact that medical personnel have been threatened directly, and hospitals have been warned of their complete destruction, causing fear of the same scenario as the bombardment and siege of Al-Shifa Hospital in March 2024.

“Such threats violate international law and human rights conventions, more specifically the right to health, the right to life, the right to be free from torture, women’s rights and children’s rights.”

Moreover, the recent escalation, including large-scale air strikes, sniping and shelling in areas like Jabalia, has resulted in significant civilian injuries and casualties, exacerbating the already overwhelming chaos in hospitals in the north of the Gaza Strip. The ongoing bombardment, sniper attacks and shelling have targeted a number of journalists and civil defence workers, and destroyed homes, schools and essential services, leaving civilians with no possibility of a safe corridor to move to the south.

“The escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza has already seen thousands of civilian deaths, the destruction of critical infrastructure and mass displacements. Forcing the evacuation of these last remaining hospitals will condemn countless patients and medical personnel to death. Hospitals in conflict zones are protected under international humanitarian law, and attacking or targeting them constitutes a war crime.”

These acts, stressed the signatories, represent not only an attack on the health system but also a wider attempt to depopulate northern Gaza by eliminating essential services.

“As well as convening an urgent debate at the Human Rights Council, we also request the relevant special rapporteurs, independent experts and all treaty bodies to provide information on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and action needed.

“Once again, we know the limits of your possible direct action, but there is no limit to your convening power, within the Human Rights Council, acting jointly with independent human rights mechanisms, to put all states in front of their responsibilities. It is now or never, Mr. High Commissioner.”

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