United Nations: Israel's expansion of its ground operation in Gaza is a "massacre" that must be stopped.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, on Tuesday condemned Israel's expansion of its ground operation in the city of Gaza, deeming what is happening "completely unacceptable" and calling for an end to the ongoing "massacre."

Turk stated in press remarks today: "The whole world is crying out for peace. Palestinians and Israelis are crying out for peace. Everyone wants this to stop, and what we are seeing is an additional escalation that is completely unacceptable."

He added: "It is completely clear that this massacre must stop. We are witnessing one war crime after another and crimes against humanity… The decision will return to the court to determine whether it is genocide or not, and we see the evidence increasing."

Turk's remarks come after an independent international commission of inquiry, mandated by the United Nations, accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza Strip since the war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas's attack, which the commission stated aimed to "eliminate" the Palestinians.

At the same time, the Israeli army began a "fundamental" operation as part of its assault to control the city of Gaza, expanding its ground advance towards the city center, according to a military official, which has sparked widespread international condemnation and fears of further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the besieged enclave.

The ongoing massacres targeting homes and residential neighborhoods and the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and increasing pressure on the international community to take urgent steps to put an end to what the United Nations has described as a "continuing massacre."