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United Nations

UN Staff Urge Explicit Genocide Label for Israeli Actions in Gaza

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A group of over 500 staff members from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have written a letter to chief Volker Turk, urging him to explicitly describe the Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip as ongoing genocide. The letter points to the magnitude, range, and type of violations that have been documented in the nearly two-year-long Israeli onslaught against the besieged coastal sliver. It argues that OHCHR has a strong legal and moral responsibility to denounce acts of genocide and that failing to do so undermines the credibility of the UN and the human rights system.

Key Takeaways:

  • The letter was signed by over 500 employees of the OHCHR, representing approximately a quarter of the UN office's 2,000 international staff.
  • The letter argues that the Israeli military actions in Gaza meet the legal definitions of genocide, citing the magnitude, range, and type of violations documented.
  • The OHCHR chief, Volker Turk, has previously condemned Israeli actions in Gaza and warned of the increasing risk of atrocity crimes.
  • Francesca Albanese, an independent UN expert, has also used the term "genocide" to describe Israeli actions in Gaza.
  • The death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, has reached 62,966 Palestinians, with 159,266 individuals injured.
  • The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
  • Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its war on Gaza.

Statistics:

  • Over 500 OHCHR employees signed the letter to Volker Turk.
  • Approximately a quarter of the UN office's 2,000 international staff supported the letter.
  • At least 62,966 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
  • 159,266 individuals have been injured in the conflict.
  • The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for 2 Israeli officials.
  • The genocide case against Israel is pending at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Sources:

  • [Source 1: "UN Staff Urge Genocide Label for Israeli Actions in Gaza" by Press TV.]
  • [Source 2: "GENOCIDE IN GAZA: DOES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAVE A DOUBLE STANDARD?" by The Grayzone.]
  • [Source 3: "ICC: Netanyahu and former minister Yoav Gallant have to turn themselves in" by YNET.]
  • [Source 4: "UN: 71 Palestinians killed, over 200 injured in 24 hours" by Al Jazeera.]

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