The UN’s rights chief has denounced Israel’s sharp escalation of attacks in Gaza — and an apparent push to permanently displace the population — as amounting to “ethnic cleansing”, AFP reports.

“This latest barrage of bombs … and the denial of humanitarian assistance underline that there appears to be a push for a permanent demographic shift in Gaza that is in defiance of international law and is tantamount to ethnic cleansing,” Volker Turk said in a statement.

Turk, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, warned that a clear intensification in attacks this week raised fears the wider Israeli offensive had begun.

“We must stop the clock on this madness,” he said, urging all parties, including third states with direct influence, to stop the assault.

Read more here.