The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Wednesday described antisemitism as an ongoing plague and "scourge on our collective humanity" which has resulted in damaging consequences for communities worldwide.
This comes just a day after the UN human rights office (OHCHR) issued a statement expressing horror over the reported summary execution of six Israeli hostages who were among those abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups during the 7 October terror attacks.
Their bodies were recovered by the Israeli military over the weekend, from a tunnel near the border with Egypt, according to news reports.
Following the news, OHCHR's High Commissioner, Volker Türk called for an "independent, impartial and transparent investigation and for perpetrators to be held to account."
'Sharp rise' following 7 October
In his statement on Wednesday at a workshop on the issue in Geneva, Mr. Türk noted an increase in reports of antisemitic attacks and hate speeches globally, with a "sharp rise" occurring following the attacks on southern Israel, which ignited the on-going war in Gaza.
He said antisemitic acts have "left deep scars that are hard to heal. But we can - and must - learn from them."
He said both the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) have been guided and strengthened by the fundamental goal of overcoming "hatred and ignorance that drive violence, destruction and dehumanisation."
