UN human rights chief slams Israeli minister over comment on starving people in Gaza
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has criticised far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over his controversial statements about starving Palestinians.
According to Israeli media reports, Mr Smotrich said a blockade of aid supplied to the Gaza Strip was justified to free the hostages abducted to Gaza during the October 7 terrorist attacks.
His comments on Monday triggered outrage in Germany, France, and the EU.
Mr Türk said such statements incited hatred against innocent civilians. He said allowing people to starve or collectively punishing them are war crimes.
According to him, such statements, particularly from officials, must stop immediately, and he demanded that they be investigated and, if classified as crimes, prosecuted and punished.
Mr Türk also reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip.
(dpa/NAN)
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