Tlaleng Mofokeng, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health said they have witnessed “the horror of genocide in Gaza” since the start of the Israeli aggression on 7 October, 2023.
This came in a joint press conference held by Mofokeng with other UN rapporteurs, Monday, on the situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, within the framework of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Horrors of Genocide
Mofokeng added Gaza witnessed genocide in the last 11 months by the Israeli occupation, explaining attacks on hospitals and health workers have reached an unprecedented level, pointing to the complete destruction of the health infrastructure in Gaza.
She reported that only 17 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza continue to operate partially, noting that Israel continues to violate international law by launching attacks on civilians, children and health workers.
In turn, the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, Pedro Araujo-Agudo, highlighted the water crisis in the Gaza Strip.
He added currently, the people of Gaza live on an average of 4.7 liters of water per person per day, while the World Health Organization has set the minimum required amount of water in times of emergency at 15 liters.
Open Catastrophe
As for the UN Special Rapporteur on the International System, George Katrougalos, he said what is happening in the Palestinian territories is “an open catastrophe for everyone.”
He added this catastrophe and tragedy is not limited to the Palestinians only, but is directly linked to the future of multilateralism and the standards of the United Nations.
Katrougalos called for the immediate recognition of the State of Palestine, and for all countries to exert pressure to stop the war on Gaza.
For her part, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, said the Israeli attacks on Gaza have reached a worrying level and have extended to the West Bank as well.
She added that the Israeli “genocidal attacks” for nearly a year have destroyed the basic infrastructure in the Palestinian territories.