Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees UNHCR at a Press Conference after 66th session of Excom. 9 October 2015. UN Photo / Jean-Marc Ferré
BBC: Israel’s tense relationship with the UN
In the month since Hamas attacked Israel, the UN has repeatedly condemned the brutal violence, and demanded the release of the hostages. It did so again today.
But senior UN officials, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, have also infuriated Israel by warning of war crimes in Gaza.
Depriving civilians of water, food, and electricity is a violation of international law, the UN says. So is attacking hospitals – even if Israel suspects Hamas fighters are hiding there.
The UN wants all sides, in all conflicts, to obey international law. But what its aid agencies want most right now is access to Gaza, where thousands of civilians are hungry, thirsty, and homeless – and where, the WHO said today, 160 children are being killed every day.
But with some Israeli diplomats even calling for Guterres’ resignation, it’s not clear the UN has any meaningful dialogue with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Earlier, UN human rights chief Volker Turk is on five-day tour of the Middle East. But his office says only that he has asked to visit Israel and Gaza – not that he will be allowed to do so.
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