The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Monday called for an urgent de-escalation in the Middle East over fears that the Gaza wa.r could spread.
“I am deeply worried about the rising r!sk of a wider confl!ct in the Middle East and plead with all parties, along with those states with influence, to act urgently to de-escalate what has become a very preca.rious situation,” said Turk in a statement.
Iran on Monday said it had the “legal right to pun!sh” Israel over last week’s k!.ll.ing of Palestinian armed group Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
Israel, which has not commented on the k!.ll!.ng but did admit to carrying out a str!ke on Beirut that left Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr dead, has been f!ghting a wa.r in Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. It is now exchanging daily cross-border fir.e with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The international community fears Iran, a backer of Hezbollah and Hamas, could join the confl!ct.
“Already, over the past 10 months, civilians — mostly women and children — have endured unbearable pa!n and suffe.ring as result of the b0mbs and gu.ns,” said Turk.
“Everything, and I mean everything, must be done to avoid this situation spiralling further into an aby.ss that will only have even more terr!.ble conseque.nces for civilians.”
Peoplesmind
