Israel: Amid reports of torture inside jails, rights experts call for end to impunity
“Israel’s widespread and systemic abuse of Palestinians in detention and arbitrary arrest practices over decades, coupled with the absence of any restraints by the Israeli State since 7 October 2023, paint a shocking picture enabled by absolute impunity,” the experts said….
Iran’s protest crackdown disproportionately targeting minorities: UN experts
The paper highlights several ways Iranian security forces violated the rights of minorities including through “extrajudicial executions, unnecessary use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape” and other crimes against humanity. The mission says this is the “direct result of…
Middle East: UN rights chief warns against wider war, appeals for urgent de-escalation
“I am deeply worried about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and plead with all parties, along with those States with influence, to act urgently to de-escalate what has become a very precarious situation,” Volker…
UN envoy urges action to address ‘growing risk of a serious escalation’ in the Middle East
Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, issued a statement saying he has engaged in “critical discussions with the relevant parties and Member States in the region, including Lebanon, Egypt and Qatar, in support of regional de-escalation”….
Gaza: ‘Frightening increase’ in Hepatitis A cases
“People in Gaza are facing yet another peril: Hepatitis A is spreading including among children,” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, wrote on social media. Since the start of the war last October, UNRWA…
Turkey blocks access to Instagram, gives no reason
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s communications authority blocked access to the social media platform Instagram on Friday, the latest instance of a clampdown on websites in the country. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority, which regulates the internet, announced the block…
Humanitarian efforts ‘nowhere near where they should be’ 300 days into Gaza war
Andrea De Domenico was speaking from Jerusalem in his final briefing to journalists at UN Headquarters in New York as the Israeli authorities have not renewed his visa. Reflecting on his time in the region, Mr. De Domenico recalled that…
In call to Iranian Foreign Minister, Guterres underlines need for de-escalation in the Middle East
Mr. Guterres spoke that morning with the country’s acting Foreign Minister, Ali Bagheri. Concern for the region “During the conversation, the Secretary-General expressed his deep concern regarding the ongoing situation in the region,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric during his…
Gaza: UNRWA programme aims to get children ‘back to learning’
“This first step in a much longer road focuses on activities that will give children a refuge from the horrors they continue to live through,” Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said in a post on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter. He…
Security Council debates ‘serious and dangerous escalation’ in the Middle East
“The international community must work together to prevent any actions that could make the conflict much bigger and wider very quickly,” Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for political affairs said, warning of skyrocketing tensions in the wake of the killing of…