UN: Netanyahu’s Inflammatory Speech Violates International law

The United Nations has condemned the inflammatory speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he called on the Lebanese people to rise up against the Lebanese resistance or risk a similar fate for the Gaza Strip, expressing surprise at this inflammatory tone.

The spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said at a press briefing from Geneva, as quoted by AFP: Netanyahu’s recent accent threatening the entire Lebanese people and calling on them to rise up against Hezbollah or face destruction such as Gaza, carries risks and encourages violence against civilians and civilian targets in violation of international law.

Shamdasani also denounced Israel’s continued defamation against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees UNRWA, which provides relief to about six million Palestinian refugees deployed in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, calling it unacceptable.

The killings and destruction, as well as the aggressive attitudes of those in positions of power must end, Shamdasani said, warning that the expansion of the war and the gradual escalation endanger the lives and well-being of millions of people across the region.

Amal Farhat