UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned the latest wave of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations targeting southwestern Deir El Balah in the Gaza Strip, warning that the attacks have added yet another layer of misery to an already devastated Palestinian population.

In a stark statement, Volker Türk said that the Israeli military’s recent displacement orders, immediately followed by intense bombardment, have forced thousands of Palestinians to flee once again, leaving their homes in ruins and pushing them into increasingly overcrowded and unsafe zones of Gaza.

“It seemed the nightmare couldn’t possibly get worse. And yet it does,” he remarked.

Türk emphasized that these military actions, carried out in a densely populated area, are highly likely to cause more civilian casualties and widespread destruction of vital infrastructure.

The targeted region is home to several humanitarian organizations, including shelters, clinics, guesthouses, warehouses, and community kitchens—many of which have already suffered significant damage.

“Given the concentration of civilians in the area, and the means and methods of warfare employed by Israel until now, the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high,” Türk said.

He issued a grave warning against the permanent displacement of Gaza’s population, calling it a potential war crime and, under certain conditions, a crime against humanity. “I remind Israel that as the occupying power, it has a legal obligation to ensure the provision of food, medical supplies, and other essentials to the population under its control,” he added.

“Homes have already been destroyed, and thousands have been forced to flee the area again”, the UN official further warned. “Their only choice is to go to the ever-shrinking areas of Gaza where hundreds of thousands are being forced to gather, rendering difficult any attempt to deliver humanitarian assistance. Even these areas are not safe.”

Türk also called for an immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors, allowing life-saving aid to reach those in desperate need. He urged an end to “round upon round” of military assaults and pressed for a halt to the killings and destruction.

“More and more countries are joining the calls to shake us out of this nightmare,” the UN rights chief said, stressing the urgency for the international community to act before the crisis deepens even further.

The death toll in the Gaza Strip has surged past 59,000 as Israel's months-long assault shows no signs of slowing.