Former UN chief's labelling of Gaza war as 'genocide' marks extraordinary shift

In a stark and nonstop intervention, Martin Griffiths, the erstwhile UN humanitarian chief, has described the concern successful Gaza arsenic genocide.

The statement, made during an interrogation I conducted with Griffiths connected The World, marks 1 of the astir pointed accusations yet from a fig known to beryllium profoundly embedded successful the satellite of planetary authorities and diplomacy.

"I deliberation present we've got to the constituent this is unequivocal. Of people it is genocide. Just arsenic it is weaponising aid.

"We don't request to look down ourselves to spot that's the case. That should promote america adjacent much due to the fact that we, of course, each doubted whether it would travel to that level of definition.

"We each doubted whether famine is really there. I deliberation starvation is sidesplitting people. That's atrocious enough. We don't person to interest astir famine, which is evidently determination lurking successful the shadows.

"Also, genocide… of people that's what has happened. We lone request to look astatine the statements made. Prime Minister Netanyahu has the virtuousness of being precise wide astir his objectives."

His prime of words is bonzer - not conscionable for its gravity, but due to the fact that it's Griffiths who is saying it.

A seasoned diplomat with decades of acquisition navigating analyzable planetary crises, Griffiths is known for his calm and thoughtful demeanour - not for inflammatory language.

For him to usage the word "genocide" successful a tv interrogation signals a important displacement successful however immoderate wrong the planetary strategy are present interpreting events connected the crushed successful Gaza - 20 months since Israel launched its war.

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The timing is besides noteworthy.

Just weeks earlier, Tom Fletcher, different respected erstwhile British ambassador and existent UN humanitarian chief, came adjacent to utilizing the operation during a UN Security Council session.

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He said: "What much grounds bash you request now? Will you enactment decisively to forestall genocide and to guarantee respect for planetary humanitarian law? Or volition you accidental instead: 'we did each we could?'"

Whilst helium stopped short, his code showed a wide alteration successful however starring planetary figures present presumption the absorption of Israeli subject operations successful Gaza; staggering civilian deaths, and the statements made by Israeli officials prosecuting this war.

Griffiths' remarks present spell a measurement further.

It comes arsenic the British authorities continues to grapple with nationalist choler implicit the mounting civilian toll - and faces growing scrutiny implicit its continued arms exports to Israel.

This latest connection by Griffiths doesn't conscionable bespeak humanitarian concern.

As a erstwhile ambassador, helium knows the value his words carry.

And with the humanitarian situation successful Gaza worsening, his informing challenges Israel's allies to inquire profoundly uncomfortable questions.

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Lawyers representing Israel against accusations brought by South Africa to the International Court of Justice past year - accusing its actions successful Gaza of amounting to genocide - called the claims "unfounded", "absurd" and amounting to "libel".

They went connected to accidental Israel respected planetary instrumentality and had a close to support itself.