OHCHR / TURK GAZA DEIR AL BALAH

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk commented on Israel’s military operations and the displacement of Palestinians in Deir Al Balah, Gaza. “It seemed the nightmare couldn’t possibly get worse. And yet it does,” he said. OHCHR

• Video Length: 00:01:36
• Production Date: 22 July 2025
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; DISPLACED PERSONS; HUMANITARIAN CRISIS
• Geographic Subject: GAZA
• MAMS Id: 3427693
• Parent Id: 3427693
• Alternate Title: unifeed250722e

Description

STORY: OHCHR / TURK GAZA DEIR AL BALAH
TRT: 01:30
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 JULY 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

FILE – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais Wilson

22 JULY 2025, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The latest Israeli displacement orders, followed by intensive attacks, on southwestern Deir Al Balah, in the Gaza Strip, have added more misery to the unbearable suffering of hungry Palestinians. It seemed the nightmare couldn’t possibly get worse. And yet it does. These latest Israeli airstrikes and ground operations will invariably lead to further civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure. Homes have already been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee the area again. Their only choice is to go to the ever-shrinking areas of Gaza where hundreds of thousands are being forced to gather, making it difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance. Even these areas are not safe. I remind the Israeli Government that permanently displacing people living under its occupation would amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime, and in certain circumstances, may also amount to a crime against humanity. Rather than launching round upon round of new military attacks, there must be an immediate end to the killings, destruction and the wide scale violations of international law. More and more countries are joining the calls to end this nightmare.”

FILE – GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

3.Various shots, exterior, Palais Wilson

Storyline

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday (22 Jul) commented on Israel’s military operations and the displacement of Palestinians in Deir Al Balah, Gaza. “It seemed the nightmare couldn’t possibly get worse. And yet it does,” he said.

In a statement, the High Commissoner said, “The latest Israeli displacement orders, followed by intensive attacks, on southwestern Deir Al Balah, in the Gaza Strip, have added more misery to the unbearable suffering of hungry Palestinians.

He said, "It seemed the nightmare couldn’t possibly get worse. And yet it does. These latest Israeli airstrikes and ground operations will invariably lead to further civilian deaths and destruction of civilian infrastructure."

"Homes have already been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee the area again. Their only choice is to go to the ever-shrinking areas of Gaza where hundreds of thousands are being forced to gather, making it difficult to deliver humanitarian assistance," Türk continued.

The High Comissioner reminded the Israeli Government that "permanently displacing people living under its occupation would amount to unlawful transfer, which is a war crime, and in certain circumstances, may also amount to a crime against humanity."

He said, "Rather than launching round upon round of new military attacks, there must be an immediate end to the killings, destruction and the wide scale violations of international law."

"More and more countries are joining the calls to shake us out of this nightmare," Türk concluded.