OHCHR / ISRAEL OPT

Since 7 October, more than 5,000 people in Gaza have been killed, including 2,000 children, mostly as a result of IDF attacks and operations, as have 1,300 Israeli citizens and residents as a result of attacks by Palestinian armed groups, and civilians constitute the majority of those killed in both Gaza and Israel, informed a UN Human Rights spokesperson. OHCHR

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:13
• Production Date: 24 October 2023
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: ISRAEL; PALESTINE
• MAMS Id: 3123167
• Parent Id: 3123167
• Alternate Title: unifeed231024b

Description

STORY: OHCHR / ISRAEL OPT
TRT: 03:13
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS

DATELINE: 24 OCTOBER 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, Palais Wilson, Geneva
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson, UN Human Rights:
“Since 7 October, more than 5,000 people in Gaza have been killed, including 2,000 children, mostly as a result of IDF attacks and operations, as have 1,300 Israeli citizens and residents as a result of attacks by Palestinian armed groups. Civilians constitute the majority of those killed in both Gaza and Israel. Over 1,400 people, including 800 children, are reportedly trapped under rubble in Gaza. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed.
Far too many civilian lives, many of them children, have already been lost – on both sides - as a consequence of these hostilities. And, unless something changes, coming days will see more civilians on the brink of death from continuing bombardment. Humanity must come first, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says.
This violence will never end unless leaders stand up and take the brave and humane choices that are required by fundamental humanity. The first step must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, saving the lives of civilians through the delivery of prompt and effective humanitarian aid, throughout Gaza, provided according to need and not limited by any other, arbitrary criteria.
The aid which resumed from Egypt over the weekend is a mere drop in the ocean of what is needed, when hospitals deprived of resources are overflooded by over 15,000 wounded. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is now verging on catastrophe due to lack of water, power, sanitation, essential medicine, food, and other basic necessities.
Action by Israel to cut off civilians from access to essential goods and services as a form of collective punishment, violates international law, Turk says. Additionally, all civilians captured and held by Palestinian armed groups must be released immediately and unconditionally. The taking and holding of hostages is also prohibited by international law. And Palestinian armed groups must cease the use of indiscriminate rockets, and the IDF must avoid using explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas due to the significant likelihood of indiscriminate effects.
Türk emphasised that all parties must comply fully with the laws of war and human rights law. Those who flout these rules must understand that they do so with the world watching. Accountability must be served.”
3. Med shot, Palais Wilson, Geneva.

Storyline

United Nations Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following statement today (24 Oct): “Since 7 October, more than 5,000 people in Gaza have been killed, including 2,000 children, mostly as a result of IDF attacks and operations, as have 1,300 Israeli citizens and residents as a result of attacks by Palestinian armed groups. Civilians constitute the majority of those killed in both Gaza and Israel. Over 1,400 people, including 800 children, are reportedly trapped under rubble in Gaza. Tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed.

Far too many civilian lives, many of them children, have already been lost – on both sides - as a consequence of these hostilities. And, unless something changes, coming days will see more civilians on the brink of death from continuing bombardment. Humanity must come first, the UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk says.

This violence will never end unless leaders stand up and take the brave and humane choices that are required by fundamental humanity. The first step must be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, saving the lives of civilians through the delivery of prompt and effective humanitarian aid, throughout Gaza, provided according to need and not limited by any other, arbitrary criteria.

The aid which resumed from Egypt over the weekend is a mere drop in the ocean of what is needed, when hospitals deprived of resources are overflooded by over 15,000 wounded. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is now verging on catastrophe due to lack of water, power, sanitation, essential medicine, food, and other basic necessities.

Action by Israel to cut off civilians from access to essential goods and services as a form of collective punishment, violates international law, Turk says. Additionally, all civilians captured and held by Palestinian armed groups must be released immediately and unconditionally. The taking and holding of hostages is also prohibited by international law. And Palestinian armed groups must cease the use of indiscriminate rockets, and the IDF must avoid using explosive weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas due to the significant likelihood of indiscriminate effects.

Türk emphasised that all parties must comply fully with the laws of war and human rights law. Those who flout these rules must understand that they do so with the world watching. Accountability must be served.”