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Special Rapporteur on Torture warns cruelty is becoming the enemy of peace in Gaza, and calls for release of hostages
GENEVA - The Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, repeats her urgent calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, after videos and photographs of emaciated hostages were released over the weekend.
“Cruelty is being used as psychological warfare, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, societies and for peace,” said the expert. “This war more than most is also being fought in the public arena of the media with images of suffering hitting our screens every day,” she said.
“Today I am reminding not only Hamas and other armed groups, but also anyone who is harbouring the hostages, that aiding and abetting hostage-taking is an international crime,” the expert said. “Anyone involved must be held to account for their involvement in a court of law.”
“I further appeal to all States with influence to help break the stalemate over ceasefire negotiations, for international observers to be given immediate access to every person who is being held hostage or detained, and for the parties to this awful conflict to put down their arms and negotiate, once and for all, a comprehensive peace settlement”, Edwards said.
GENEVA - The Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, repeats her urgent calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, after videos and photographs of emaciated hostages were released over the weekend.
“Cruelty is being used as psychological warfare, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, societies and for peace,” said the expert. “This war more than most is also being fought in the public arena of the media with images of suffering hitting our screens every day,” she said.
“Today I am reminding not only Hamas and other armed groups, but also anyone who is harbouring the hostages, that aiding and abetting hostage-taking is an international crime,” the expert said. “Anyone involved must be held to account for their involvement in a court of law.”
“I further appeal to all States with influence to help break the stalemate over ceasefire negotiations, for international observers to be given immediate access to every person who is being held hostage or detained, and for the parties to this awful conflict to put down their arms and negotiate, once and for all, a comprehensive peace settlement”, Edwards said.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/08/special-rapporteur-torture-warns-cruelty-becoming-enemy-peace-gaza-and-calls
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