EU, others express concern over pressure on Palestinian human rights defenders
The Consulate General of Belgium in Jerusalem says representative from the EU, Belgium, UK, Germany and Ireland met the Lawyers4Justice group to discuss their work on human rights issues
“We are increasingly concerned about the challenges and pressure Palestinian human rights defenders are facing from various sides,” it said in a post on X.
We are increasingly concerned about the challenges and pressure Palestinian human rights defenders are facing from various sides. We remain committed in our support for human rights defenders. (2/2)
— Consulate General of Belgium in Jerusalem (@BelgiumJRS) June 13, 2024
Northern Gaza suffering from starvation: Media office
The Government Media Office in the coastal enclave says in a statement that Palestinians are suffering from “an escalation of the war of starvation”.
The statement noted that the problem was especially precarious in the northern part of Gaza, as a result of Israel’s closure of crossings and the limited number of humanitarian aid trucks that are allowed to enter the Strip.
“The Zionist occupation’s brutal use of starvation, thirst, and denial of medical care as a weapon during this barbaric aggression is a proven and complex war crime, and confirmation of its continuation of its greatest crime of genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip,” the statement said.
The statement urged media outlets and activists to bring attention to the “humanitarian catastrophe and highlight the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip”.
“We also call on international and humanitarian organisations to take urgent action and provide the necessary food and humanitarian aid to our people in Gaza, and to intensify their efforts to force the occupation to bring in aid,” the media office asserted.
It also called on the international community, including the United Nations, to “intervene immediately”.
Turkey calls on UNSC members to pressure Israel into ceasefire
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, speaking in Madrid alongside Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, called on members of the United Nations Security Council, particularly the United States, to pressure Israel into making an agreement that would implement a ceasefire in Gaza.
Earlier this week, the UNSC adopted a resolution endorsing a US-backed ceasefire proposal that aims to end Israel’s eight-month assault on Gaza.
The resolution welcomes a three-phase ceasefire proposal announced by US President Joe Biden last month, which calls for an initial six-week ceasefire and the exchange of some Israeli captives held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Erdogan said Ankara welcomed any ceasefire proposals that would end the Gaza war, adding that Washington’s stance on Israel’s operations there were “truly upsetting”.
