GENEVA-In his address to the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday, UN human rights chief Volker Turk characterized the Gaza conflict between Israel and militant groups as a “powder keg” with the potential to ignite broader conflict in the Middle East. Turk emphasized the importance of taking every possible measure to prevent a wider escalation, expressing deep concern over the risk of any small incident triggering a larger conflagration. He highlighted the dangerous spillover effects already observed in neighboring countries due to the Gaza conflict, citing Yemen and Lebanon as examples. Turk particularly noted the escalation in southern Lebanon between Israel and armed groups as a cause for extreme concern. He reported significant casualties and internal displacement in Lebanon as a result of the conflict.
