Humanitarian Affairs Official Martin Griffiths Sounds Alarm on Escalating Crisis in Gaza
In the wake of Israel’s recent bombing of the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths has issued a stark warning of a global crisis unless the hostilities between Israel and Hamas come to an end.
Griffiths described the attack on the densely populated Jabalia camp as “the latest atrocity” in a series of tragic events affecting the Palestinian people in the enclave. According to Hamas reports on Tuesday, up to 400 Palestinians were killed or injured in the assault, confirmed later by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson who stated that the airstrikes targeted a “very important” Hamas commander and his forces. The IDF expressed regret for civilian casualties but attributed them to Hamas embedding itself among the civilian population.
Following a two-day visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Griffiths, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed concern that the conflict in Gaza has entered “an even more terrifying phase with increasingly dreadful humanitarian consequences.”
Referring to the events of October 7th, including an initial attack by Hamas militants on Israeli territories near Gaza and Israel’s subsequent response, Griffiths emphasized the need for immediate action. He called for the release of all hostages captured by Hamas, unconditional and immediate, and urged both sides to adhere to international humanitarian law, ceasing the targeting of civilians.
Griffiths concluded his statement by urging those with influence to work towards de-escalation, warning that the failure to act now would have consequences far beyond the region.
Meanwhile, the director of the UN’s human rights office (OHCHR) in New York, Craig Mokhiber, described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a “textbook case of genocide” and resigned from his position, citing the UN’s alleged surrender to the power of the US and failure to prevent the killing of Palestinian civilians.
As the crisis unfolds, the United States, showing little intention of pushing for a Gaza ceasefire, has reiterated its unwavering support for Israel’s right to “self-defense.” Senator Lindsey Graham went further, suggesting that Washington would stand by Israel regardless of the civilian toll in its fight against Hamas.
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