UN rights chief warns of 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza

Geneva: The UN s rights chief on Friday denounced Israel s sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza and an apparent push to permanently displace the pop...

Geneva: The UN's rights chief on Friday denounced Israel's sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza -- and an apparent push to permanently displace the population -- as amounting to "ethnic cleansing". "This latest barrage of bombs... and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing," Volker Turk said in a statement. A two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed in March, shortly after Israel reimposed a total blockade on Gaza that aid agencies say has sparked critical food shortages, with famine looming.

Israeli media reported on Friday that the military had stepped up its offensive in Gaza following government approval of a plan to retake the territory earlier this month, though the army has yet to formally announce its threatened expansion of the campaign. Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that a clear intensification in attacks this week raised fears the wider Israeli offensive had begun.

"We must stop the clock on this madness," he said, urging all parties, including third states with direct influence, to stop the assault.

"That's clearly not the case."