UPDATE: UN CALLS FOR URGENT DE-ESCALATION IN MIDDLE EAST
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 war could spread.
“I am deeply worried about the rising risk of a wider conflict 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 precarious situation,” said Turk in a statement.
Israel, which has not commented on the killing but did admit to carrying out a strike on Beirut that left Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr dead, has been fighting a war in Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Hamas. It is now exchanging daily cross-border fire with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The international community fears Iran, a backer of Hezbollah and Hamas, could join the conflict.
“Already, over the past 10 months, civilians — mostly women and children — have endured unbearable pain and suffering as result of the bombs and guns,” said Turk.
“Everything, and I mean everything, must be done to avoid this situation spiralling further into an abyss that will only have even more terrible consequences for civilians.”
