Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, reacted on Thursday to the statements of two far-right Israeli ministers insisting on the resettlement of Gaza residents in third countries, calling these remarks 'very concerning.' Turk wrote in a post on X, 'About 85% of the people in Gaza have been internally displaced due to the war and have the right to return to their homes. Under international humanitarian law, the forced transfer of protected persons within or from occupied territories is prohibited.' He also described the Israeli ministers' statements about the 'forced relocation' of Gaza residents as 'provocative and irresponsible.' Reports indicate that Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's Minister of Finance, and Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, sparked outrage this week with comments supporting the resettlement of the people of Gaza. Smotrich had stated that removing Gaza residents from the Gaza Strip could pave the way for Israelis to flourish in the desert. He later clarified that he believes any transfer of Gaza residents should be voluntary. Separately, Ben Gvir suggested that the current conflict is 'an opportunity to focus on encouraging the migration of Gaza residents.' The remarks of these two Israeli ministers were criticized by several countries, including the United States, whose State Department condemned the statements as 'provocative and irresponsible.' On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department issued a statement criticizing Israeli far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir for 'suggesting the relocation of Palestinians outside Gaza' and called for an immediate halt to irresponsible remarks. According to the Times of Israel, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, in an unprecedented statement naming the two Israeli ministers, said, 'This rhetoric is provocative and irresponsible.' The Israeli government, including the Prime Minister, has repeatedly and consistently told us that such statements do not reflect the policy of the Israeli government and 'these remarks must stop immediately.' Matthew Miller clarified, 'We have been clear that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, while Hamas no longer controls its future and no terrorist group can threaten Israel.' He added, 'This is the future we seek for the interests of Israelis and Palestinians, the Middle East region, and the world.'
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Israeli Ministers' Statements on 'Forced Relocation' of Gaza Residents are Worrying
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk condemned Israeli ministers' calls for the forced relocation of Gaza residents, emphasizing their right to return home. The U.S. also criticized these statements, highlighting the international legal implications and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
UN High Commissioner Volker Turk condemned statements from Israeli ministers advocating for the forced relocation of Gaza residents, emphasizing their right to return home. The U.S. also criticized these remarks, highlighting their provocative nature amidst the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
- Approximately 85% of Gaza's population is internally displaced due to the ongoing conflict.
- International humanitarian law prohibits the forced transfer of protected persons from occupied territories.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has a long history characterized by territorial disputes and humanitarian issues, with Gaza being a particularly contentious area. Recent escalations have led to significant displacement and suffering among the Palestinian population.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%