UN News/Manuel Elias. Nderitu, UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.
The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide today expressed his deep shock at the current situation in the Middle East and reiterated his call for a humanitarian ceasefire to protect civilians.
Special Adviser Alice Wairimu Nderitu also stressed the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to end the crisis.
"Civilians should never have to pay for a conflict for which they are not responsible," she said in a statement. ”
"Their most basic rights must be protected and upheld, and their humanitarian needs must be met. ”
As of Wednesday, the brutal war in Gaza had been going on for four full months.
On October 7 last year, Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked southern Israel, killing some 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and holding more than 250 hostages.
At least 27,840 Palestinians have been killed and more than 67,300 injured in the subsequent Israeli military operation against the Gaza Strip, according to local health authorities. More than 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced, and homes, schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure have been extensively damaged in this Palestinian enclave.
Resolve to end the conflict
The Special Adviser also called on all relevant actors to strengthen their resolve to end the conflict.
This, she said, first and foremost entails ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international law.
She also called for the safe return of all hostages still held by Hamas and for an investigation into reported sexual violence in and after the October 7 attacks.
Decision of the International Court of Justice
The statement also referred to the interim measures ordered by the International Court of Justice in the case concerning the prevention of genocide in the Gaza Strip brought by South Africa against Israel.
Nderito noted that neither the UN Secretary-General nor herself, as Special Adviser, have "taken a position" on the ongoing judicial proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
In its decision of 26 January, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel, inter alia, to "take all measures within its authority", in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, to prevent the commission of acts within the scope of Article 2 of the Convention, including killing, causing serious physical or mental harm, deliberately subjecting the group to a certain living condition for total or partial destruction, and taking measures aimed at preventing reproduction.
The Court also ordered Israel to "immediately ensure that its forces refrain from any of the above-mentioned acts".
Regional spillovers
The Special Adviser also shares the concerns expressed by the Secretary-General about the spillover effects of the war in Gaza in the West Bank and the wider Middle East.
She also reiterated her concern about the impact of conflicts around the world and urged all parties to work to promote peaceful coexistence of communities and to resolve all grievances in a constructive and peaceful manner.
"Incendiary speech, dehumanizing speech and hate speech only fuel further violence and shrink the space for ending the conflict," Nderito said. ”
"Political leaders have a special responsibility to refrain from using such hate speech and to take all possible measures to defuse ongoing tensions," she added. ”
