Palestinians pray by the bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in front of the morgue in Deir Al-Balah, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. AP
Israeli occupation army relentlessly hammered the territory on Saturday after fierce overnight bombardment that rescuers said destroyed hundreds of buildings three weeks into a war sparked by the deadliest attack in the country's history.
"Given the manner in which military operations have been conducted until now, in the context of the 56-year-old occupation, I am raising alarm about the possibly catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza and the potential for thousands more civilians to die," Turk said.
"There is no safe place in Gaza and there is no way out. I am very worried for my colleagues, as I am for all civilians in Gaza."
Palestinian Ministry of Health said Israeli strikes had killed 7,703 people, mainly civilians, including more than 3,500 children.
The UN rights chief also condemned the Internet and telecommunications blackout that has hit the Palestinian territory since Friday.
"Compounding the misery and suffering of civilians, Israeli strikes on telecommunications installations and subsequent Internet shutdown have effectively left Gazans with no way of knowing what is happening across Gaza and cut them off from the outside world," he said.
"Ambulances and civil defence teams are no longer able to locate the injured, or the thousands of people estimated to be still under the rubble.
"When these hostilities end, those who have survived will face the rubble of their homes and the graves of their family members," Turk said.
He called on all parties "to do all in their power to de-escalate the conflict".
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