UN staff pressure human rights chief to call Gaza a genocide

More than 500 staff at the United Nations have urged its human rights chief to describe the Gaza conflict as a genocide.

In a letter to Volker Turk, head of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), staff claim that thelegal criteria for genocide in the nearly two-year Israel-Hamas war have been met. The staff said failure to claim a genocide "undermines" the UN's credibility.

The letter, seen by news agency Reuters, was sent on Wednesday. They argue the scale, scope and nature of the near two-year Israel-Hamas war justifies using the term.

'Failing to denounce an unfolding genocide undermines the credibility of the UN' The letter, signed by the Staff Committee on behalf of more than 500 employees, reads: "OHCHR has a strong legal and moral responsibility to denounce acts of genocide. "Failing to denounce an unfolding genocide undermines the credibility of the UN and the human rights system itself." The letter also points towards the international body's perceived moral failure in not doing more to stop the 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed more than one million people.

It comes after Israeli forces killed at least 16 Palestinians across Gaza on Thursday, according to local health officials. Residents reported an intensified military bombardment in the suburbs of Gaza City.

There have been fears a fresh assault on the city will cause significant casualties and displace roughly one million Palestinians sheltering there. According to the health ministry, Thursday's deaths bring the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire to 71 in the past 24 hours.

Israel's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the letter. The country has denied it is committing genocide, claiming self-defence against Hamas following its attack on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.

'We all share a feeling of moral indignation at the horrors we are witnessing' Since then, the conflict has killed almost 63,000 people, according to Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry. The UN's global hunger monitor earlier this month declared that Gaza City and surrounding areas were officially suffering from famine.

The letter echoes claims from various rights groups, including Amnesty International, who have also accused Israel of committing genocide. Independent UN expert Francesca Albanese has also used the term, but not the UN itself.

Previously, UN officials said it is up to international courts to determine genocide. Turk has repeatedly condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, and said the letter highlighted important concerns.

He said: "I know we all share a feeling of moral indignation at the horrors we are witnessing, as well as frustration in the face of the international community's inability to bring this situation to an end." He called for employees to "remain united as an Office in the face of such adversity". 'It is not nearly enough to do what we need to do' On Thursday, the World Food Programme (WFP) said more aid is reaching Gaza but it is not enough to prevent widespread starvation.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said: "We're getting a little bit more food in. We're moving in the right direction, but it's not nearly enough to do what we need to do to make sure that people are not malnourished and not starving.".