UN Rights Chief Urges De-Escalation in Iran–Zionist Entity Conflict
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed grave concern on Monday over the escalating military confrontation between The Zionist entity and Iran, calling for immediate diplomatic engagement and strict adherence to international law. Speaking at the 59th Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk warned that the recent hostilities — including Zionist strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran’s retaliatory missile attacks — risk further destabilizing the region. “The military escalation between Israel and Iran is deeply worrying,” he said, stressing the urgency of “urgent diplomatic negotiations” and full respect for civilian protection in conflict zones.
Turning to Gaza, Turk delivered his strongest condemnation to date of Zionist actions, accusing Tel Aviv of “inflicting horrifying, unconscionable suffering” on Palestinians through methods including the weaponization of food and obstruction of aid. He demanded immediate investigations into attacks on civilians seeking food, and denounced the “dehumanizing rhetoric” from senior Zionist officials as “reminiscent of the gravest of crimes.” He also criticized the Zionist entity’s ban on international journalists in Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, he noted, Palestinians face daily violence, detentions, and forced displacement at the hands of Zionist forces and settlers.
Turk also addressed other global flashpoints. In Lebanon, he condemned Zionist strikes killing civilians and damaging vital infrastructure. In Sudan, he described a “deteriorating human rights catastrophe,” with soaring civilian casualties and widespread sexual violence. On Ukraine, he reported a rise in civilian deaths and urged both Kyiv and Moscow to engage in a full prisoner-of-war exchange and commit to a ceasefire.
