GENEVA (dpa-AFX) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed horror at reports that Palestinian militants are mistreating kidnapped Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. Some people were displayed like trophies, said a spokeswoman for the UN human rights office in Geneva on Tuesday. “I call on the Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who have been captured,” Turk said. “Taking hostages is prohibited under international law.”
“It is appalling and deeply shocking to see images of people captured by armed Palestinian groups being mistreated,” Türk continued. There were also reports that prisoners were killed and their bodies desecrated. “Civilians must never be used as leverage,” continued Türk.
He called on all governments with influence in the region to take steps “to defuse the powder keg situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.” According to information from the UN Human Rights Office, Israeli retaliatory strikes hit homes and schools in Gaza, among other places. International humanitarian law requires absolute caution at all times, even during attacks, in order to avoid casualties among civilians. No warning of an impending attack is enough, the spokeswoman added.
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