‘Extremely high' risk of serious abuses amid expanded Israel Gaza operation: UN
'It seemed the nightmare couldn't possibly get worse. And yet it does...Given the concentration of civilians in the area, and the means and methods of warfare employed by Israel until now, the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high,' Volker Turk, the head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights said on Tuesday in a statement.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia welcomes Macron announcement of French recognition of Palestinian state
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed a statement by French Emmanuel Macron that his country would recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. 'True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine,' Macron wrote on social media on Thursday evening. The Kingdom commends this historic decision, which aligns with the international community's consensus on the right of the Palestinian people to determine their own fate and establish their independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, a Saudi Foreign Ministry statement released on Friday read. It added that the Kingdom renews its call to the rest of the countries that have not yet recognized a Palestinian state to take similar steps in doing so. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly called for the creation of an independent state for the Palestinians. Around 142 countries now support Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally. The ministry statement urged all countries to adopt serious stances in support of peace and the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people. Israel is currently conducting a devastating military campaign in Gaza and has been accused of using starvation as a war tactic. An Israeli-backed organization distributing aid had been accused of shooting unarmed civilians trying to get food. The UN said 875 people had been killed within the preceding six weeks near the aid sites created by Israel. Peace negotiations to end the war and exchange prisoners and hostages appeared to have collapsed on Thursday night after US President Donald Trump recalled his negotiators. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said: 'We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.' Hamas said they were surprised by Witkoff's comments but would be willing to continue negotiations.


Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
France will recognize State of Palestine: Macron
PARIS: France will recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday. 'True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognize the State of Palestine. I will make a formal announcement at the United Nations General Assembly in September,' the French head of state wrote on X and Instagram. Including France, Palestinian statehood is now recognized by 142 countries, according to an AFP tally, though Israel and the United States strongly oppose recognition. France would be the most significant European power to recognize a Palestinian state. 'The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and rescue the civilian population,' Macron wrote. 'We must finally build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability and enable it, by accepting its demilitarization and fully recognizing Israel, to contribute to the security of all in the Middle East.'


Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Muslim World League chief meets Afghan ministers in Kabul
KABUL: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, conducted high-level meetings with senior Afghan officials during his visit to Kabul. Al-Issa met Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi. Discussions centered on strengthening solidarity and promoting Islamic values worldwide. Key topics included the imperative to present Islam's true character through its principles of justice, rights protection, moderation and universal compassion. The officials emphasized that religious tolerance, as outlined in the Qur'an, Sunnah and prophetic traditions, must be reflected in Muslim conduct at both individual and community levels. The dialogue addressed contemporary challenges facing these objectives, particularly conflicting scholarly interpretations on critical issues that should unite the Muslim community. Officials referenced the significance of the 'Makkah Document' and the 'Document for Building Bridges Between Islamic Schools of Thought,' while highlighting the crucial role of the league's Islamic Fiqh Council as the premier jurisprudential body serving the Islamic nation's muftis and senior scholars. The meeting stressed the importance of promoting religious awareness through wisdom and sound guidance, while preventing those who exploit such discrepancies — whether deliberately or through ignorance — from damaging Islam's image and fueling Islamophobic sentiments. Al-Issa commended the Afghan government's counter-terrorism efforts during the talks. In a separate meeting, Al-Issa held discussions with Afghan Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani, focusing specifically on Afghanistan's fight against terrorist organizations. Both officials underscored that Islamic unity carries profound significance, while division and discord threaten Muslim solidarity and tarnish Islam's reputation. They agreed that such damage far outweighs any perceived benefits some scholars might identify in jurisprudential matters that rank below this paramount Islamic goal, adhering to the established principles of weighing benefits against potential harm recognized across all Islamic schools of thought.