The UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, has raised alarm on Tuesday about the possibility of the conflict in Gaza spreading to neighboring regions, raising fears of increased violence in the Palestinian territory.
Nderitu emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation, while cautioning against provocations and ongoing inflammatory discourse that could jeopardize peace efforts. Her remarks echoed those of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who previously warned that any escalation of violence beyond Gaza, involving Israel and the Hamas movement, could exacerbate existing tensions.
"Inflammatory remarks, dehumanising rhetoric and hate speech can only contribute to ignite further violence and reduce the space for ending the conflict," the official, who is a Kenyan national, said. "Political leaders have a special responsibility to refrain from using such hateful narratives and implement all possible measures to defuse ongoing tensions."
Nderitu's office issued the statement following criticism that she had not addressed the situation in Gaza, where, according to the local authorities, more than 2 million people have been displaced and over 28,300, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023.
Israel has rejected accusations of disproportionate force despite facing a setback last month when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) mandated immediate actions to prevent actions potentially falling under the definition of genocide, including group destruction and measures to impede births.
"Civilians should never pay the price of a conflict for which they bear no responsibility. Their most basic rights must be protected and preserved, and their humanitarian needs must be met," Nderitu said. "This requires first and foremost ensuring the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructures in accordance with international law."
The current Gaza conflict started after Hamas launched a widescale attack on Israel on October 7. Fighting has recently intensified following Israel's strategy to target Rafah, the border town adjacent to Egypt, drew criticism from regional nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia as a perilous move. Israel has been striking Rafah in preparation for a ground incursion into the city, which serves as a refuge for over a million Palestinians instructed by Israeli forces to relocate south during the four-month Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
On January 26, the ICJ issued provisional measures in South Africa's case against Israel for alleged genocide in Gaza, directing Tel Aviv to take immediate action to prevent genocidal acts and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the enclave.
South Africa formally filed a complaint against Israel on December 29, urging the Court to intervene to safeguard the Palestinian population from severe violations of their rights under the Genocide Convention and guarantee Israel's adherence to its obligations under the Convention.