UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged Israeli authorities on Wednesday to halt their plans for military expansion into Gaza, warning that the new operation could seriously threaten the rights and existence of Palestinians in the strip. He also stated that Israel’s expanded offensive may imply violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. He finally added that there is no reason to believe that doubling down on military strategies will now succeed.

The high commissioner highlighted that the planned Israeli action would only compound the misery and suffering inflicted by the complete blockade on the entry of basic goods for the past eight-plus weeks, which is depriving Gaza’s residents of all life’s necessities, particularly food. He also highlighted that any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, stating that the only lasting solution to this crisis lies through full compliance with international law.

This comes just two days after the EU high representative and vice president demanded that Israel allow humanitarian access to Gaza in a call with Israel’s minister of foreign affairs. This also comes just days after the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories called for an arms embargo and sanctions against Israel alongside advocating for an emergency session in the UN General Assembly. Last month, the UN also condemned the killing of eight Palestinian paramedics, five civil defense first responders, and a UN staff member by Israeli forces in Rafah, southern Gaza.