FILE PHOTO: United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, leaves after an international humanitarian conference for the people of Gaza at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, November 9, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco/File Photo
United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths called anew for a ceasefire in Gaza as he expressed being 鈥渄eeply alarmed鈥� by Israeli ministers鈥� statements about 鈥減lans to encourage the mass transfer鈥� of Palestinian civilians from the Gaza Strip to third countries.
鈥淯nless we act, it will become an indelible mark on our humanity,鈥� Martin Griffiths, the UN undersecretary for humanitarian affairs, told the UN Security Council on Friday. 鈥淚 reiterate my call for this council to take urgent action to bring this war to an end.鈥�
Griffiths painted a dire picture of a worsening humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses the offensive it launched after the Oct. 7 onslaught into Israel by the enclave鈥檚 ruling Hamas Islamists that claimed some 1,200 lives.
Quoting Gaza鈥檚 Hamas-run health ministry, he said that more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 58,000 injured since Israel launched the offensive in which it vows to destroy Hamas.
The 鈥渉orrific鈥� situation created by the 鈥渞elentless鈥� Israeli operation can be seen in the displacement of 85% of Gaza鈥檚 2.3 million Palestinians 鈥渇orced to flee again and again as the bombs and missiles rain down,鈥� Griffiths continued.
鈥淲e are deeply alarmed by recent statements by Israeli ministers regarding plans to encourage the mass transfer of civilians from Gaza to third countries, currently referred to as 鈥榲oluntary relocation,'鈥� he said.
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Such statements, Griffiths said, raise concerns 鈥渁bout the possible forced transfer or deportation of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip鈥� in violation of international law.
The statements by far right-wing Israeli cabinet ministers also have prompted the United States, Israel鈥檚 closest ally, to raise similar concerns.
US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and her British counterpart, Barbara Woodward, repeated those concerns during the meeting.
鈥淭hese statements, along with statements by Israeli officials calling for the mistreatment of Palestinian detainees or the destruction of Gaza, are irresponsible, inflammatory, and only make it harder to secure a lasting peace,鈥� Thomas-Greenfield said.
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Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deny they have plans to forcibly move the Palestinian population from Gaza.
Ilze Brands Kehris, UN assistant secretary-general for human rights, said the high civilian casualty toll, massive destruction of civilian infrastructure and displacement of civilians 鈥渞aise very serious concerns about the potential commission of war crimes.鈥�
She warned that the risk of further grave violations, even atrocity crimes, is real. Israel denies committing war crimes.
The council met only hours after Israel rejected as false and 鈥済rossly distorted鈥� accusations brought by South Africa in the UN International Criminal Court that its offensive is a state-led genocide campaign against Palestinians.