UN Rights Chief Urges End to Gaza Violence

Volker Türk: ‘Top priority is to end the violence in Gaza’

Call for restraint after border clashes

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations human rights chief on Thursday urged an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip and called for restraint after deadly border clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants.

Volker Türk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said in a statement that he was “deeply concerned” by the escalation of violence, which has killed at least 10 Palestinians and injured hundreds more.

Türk said that the “top priority” must be to end the violence and prevent further loss of life. He called on all parties to “exercise maximum restraint” and to respect international human rights law.

The violence began on Wednesday after Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Gaza in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. The airstrikes killed at least 10 Palestinians, including a 5-year-old girl.

Palestinian militants responded with rocket fire, which injured at least 10 Israelis. The Israeli military said that it had intercepted dozens of rockets.

The violence has raised fears of a wider conflict between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that controls Gaza. Türk said that it was “essential” to avoid such a conflict and to find a peaceful solution to the underlying tensions.

“I urge all parties to engage in dialogue and to work towards a just and sustainable peace that respects the rights of all,” Türk said.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the violence in Gaza. The council has called for an immediate ceasefire and for all parties to respect international law.