{
  "id": 16972475,
  "title": "UN rights chief wants next Israeli govt to ‘change course massively’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/un-rights-chief-wants-next-israeli-govt-to-change-course-massively",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T22:08:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/highlight/2026/10/29/un-rights-chief-wants-next-israeli-govt-to-change-course-massively"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "UN rights chief Volker Turk expressed deep concern on Wednesday that Israel may be guilty of 'ethnic cleansing' in the West Bank and Gaza during his recent interview in New York. After the recent elections, the political future of Israel is uncertain as hard-fought elections have left the outcome hanging. Speaking to reporters, Turk urged the upcoming Israeli government to change course massively and adhere to international law, stating that the current situation appears to violate international laws, including humanitarian and human rights laws. He reiterated that Israel has obligations under these laws and should respect them. Earlier this week, Turk had warned that the Israeli military occupation in Hebron, initiated after a deadly attack by Palestinian gunmen, raised serious concerns about ethnic cleansing. He emphasized that collective punishment is a grave violation of international law. With over 85% of the votes counted, Israel's right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slightly ahead but falls short of a majority. This outcome makes Arab Israeli parties potential kingmakers in the upcoming government formation. The election on Tuesday was the first since the October 7, 2023 attack that triggered Israel's war in Gaza and the wider region.",
  "summary": "Volker Turk says Israel should abandon its current course of warfare and stop acting as though it is above international law.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}