UN human rights chief urges ceasefire as Gaza death toll exceeds 40,000

GENEVA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) — The United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, as the death toll among the Palestinians exceeded 40,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
“Today marks a grim milestone for the world,” Turk said in a statement, following reports from Gaza health authorities indicating that the Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached 40,005, with 92,401 injured since the conflict began on Oct. 7, 2023.
Turk emphasized that the majority of the deceased are women and children, highlighting the devastating impact on civilian populations. He expressed deep concern over the Israeli Defense Forces’ repeated violations of the rules of war, which have caused extensive damage to homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship in the Gaza Strip.
Turk described the scale of the Israeli military’s destruction as “deeply shocking,” noting that about 130 people have been killed daily in the Gaza Strip over the past 10 months.
He called on all parties involved to immediately agree to a ceasefire and lay down their arms. Meanwhile, Turk stressed the urgent need for the release of hostages and the freeing of Palestinians who have been arbitrarily detained. He also reiterated the necessity of ending Israel’s illegal occupation and urged for the implementation of the internationally supported two-state solution. ■