Delivered by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Geneva - I am deeply worried about the rising risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and plead with all parties, along with those States with influence, to act urgently to de-escalate what has become a very precarious situation. Human rights - first and foremost the protection of civilians - must be the top priority. Already, over the past 10 months, civilians - mostly women and children - have endured unbearable pain and suffering as result of the bombs and guns. Everything, and I mean everything, must be done to avoid this situation spiralling further into an abyss that will only have even more terrible consequences for civilians. For more information and media requests, please contact: In Geneva Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org Jeremy Laurence +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org Thameen Al-Kheetan +41 76 223 7762/ thameen.alkheetan@un.org Tag and share Twitter @UNHumanRights Facebook unitednationshumanrights Instagram