UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has criticised far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over his controversial statements about starving Palestinians.
According to Israeli media reports, Smotrich said that a blockade of aid supplied to the Gaza Strip was justified to free the hostages abducted to Gaza during the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.
His comments on Monday triggered outrage in Germany, France, and the EU.
Türk said such statements incited hatred against innocent civilians.
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He said that allowing people to starve or collectively punish them are war crimes.
According to him, such statements, particularly from officials, must stop immediately and demanded they be investigated and, if classified as crimes prosecuted and punished.
Türk also reiterated his call for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of the remaining hostages being held in the Gaza Strip. (dpa/NAN)
