United Nations Human Rights Chief Condemns Violence in Israel-Iran Clashes
By Syed Ali Taher Abedi
Geneva, 19 June 2025 -In the backdrop of the wide scale attacks by Israel across Iran and the retaliatory response by missiles and drones strikes launched by Iran are Perpetrating sever human rights and humanitarian impacts on civilians and risk setting the whole region on fire.
The press communique from the United Nations Human Rights Chief Turk says that airstrike, missile and drone attacks have caused an irreparable harm to the human lives beyond the military objectives. They have devastated the human lives and caused extensive damage to civilian objects such as medical infrastructure residential buildings water pipe lines and oil and gas facilities. The latest Iranian figures cites 224 people dead, while human rights group have reported over double that number and several injured. Official figures in Israel refer to at least 24 people dead and over 840 injured. A large and increasing number of civilians are being displaced, notably from Tehran following evacuation warnings covering wide swathes of the capital.
I recall the fundamental tenets of international humanitarian law – binding both parties – which demand full respect in the conduct of hostilities for the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions, and which prohibit indiscriminate attacks as well as deliberate attacks on civilians or civilian objects.
It is appalling to see how civilians are treated as collateral damage in the conduct of hostilities. Threats and inflammatory rhetoric by senior officials on both sides suggest a worrying intention to inflict harm on civilians.
The only way out of this spiralling illogic of escalation is maximum restraint, full respect for international law, and return in good faith to the negotiating table.
