By On 16th November 2023, Jonathan Frerichs, Pax Christi International Representative at the UN in Geneva, attended the informal briefing on the Gaza crisis by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, briefed Member States and NGOs after visiting the crisis zone, including Egypt and Jordan, but being blocked from Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Türk highlighted the severe impact of the Gaza violence, emphasising the violation of International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law. He noted that “Palestine and Israel are each other’s only hope for peace”.
Concerns mirrored those on the PCI website’s “Collection of statements and initiatives on Israel-Palestine Conflict“—inviting more media outreach and collaboration in peace-building.
Governments addressed a broad spectrum of issues, with South Africa urging an ICC investigation and Germany advocating increased aid for Gaza.
The briefing emphasised the importance of a two-state solution and called for action on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in December 2023.