UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has sharply criticised far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for his controversial statements about starving Palestinians.
According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich said the blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip was justified to free hostages who were taken to Gaza during the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel, even though it meant that 2 million people would starve.
His comments on Monday sparked outrage in Germany, France and the EU.
Türk said such statements incite hatred against innocent civilians. He said allowing people to starve or collectively punishing them are war crimes. He said such statements, especially by officials, must stop immediately and demanded that they be investigated and, if classified as crimes, prosecuted and punished.
Türk also reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the war in Gaza and the release of the remaining hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
