UN Report Condemns High Civilian Death Toll in Gaza Conflict
- November 8, 2024
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The UN’s Human Rights Office has issued a grave report on the Gaza conflict, revealing that nearly 70% of verified casualties are women and children. The report accuses
The UN’s Human Rights Office has issued a grave report on the Gaza conflict, revealing that nearly 70% of verified casualties are women and children. The report accuses both warring sides of failing to protect civilians and warns of possible violations of international law, raising concerns over alleged war crimes.
Majority of Gaza Casualties Are Civilians
The UN Human Rights Office’s latest analysis presents disturbing findings: 8,119 confirmed deaths in Gaza from November 2023 to April 2024, with nearly 70% of victims identified as women and children. According to the data, children make up approximately 44% of the fatalities, while women account for around 26%. The ages most impacted are children between five and nine years old.
Volker Türk, UN Human Rights Chief, condemned the high civilian toll, stating that “this unprecedented level of killing and injury” reflects a failure to uphold essential principles of international humanitarian law. Türk stressed that fundamental laws, such as distinguishing between combatants and civilians and ensuring proportionality, appear to be disregarded.
Civilian Areas Under Attack
According to the UN, approximately 80% of Gaza casualties occurred in residential buildings or densely populated housing areas. The report attributes much of the high civilian toll to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) use of wide-area weapons in urban areas, though it also acknowledges deaths from errant projectiles by Palestinian armed groups.
In response, the IDF maintains that it adheres to international law, targeting only Hamas and taking steps to mitigate civilian risk. However, the UN report challenges these claims, highlighting “unprecedented” violations of international law by both sides, potentially amounting to war crimes.
UN Condemns “Indifference to Civilian Suffering”
The report paints a bleak picture of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, especially in the north, where Israel intensified its ground offensive in October 2023 following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack. Palestinian armed groups have reportedly operated from civilian areas and used indiscriminate projectiles, further heightening civilian risk.
The UN notes that Israel’s response has included extensive destruction of infrastructure, leaving many survivors without essential resources. The lack of food, water, and healthcare access has worsened conditions, with aid organizations reporting catastrophic levels of need in the besieged north.
International Pressure Builds on Israel
The escalating civilian toll has led to increased international scrutiny. Aid organizations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, are pressing Israel to address the crisis. Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, described scenes in Gaza as “devastation, despair, beyond belief,” comparing parts of the region to post-WWII Stalingrad.
The U.S. has also intervened, issuing an ultimatum to Israel to increase humanitarian aid deliveries by November 12. Failure to do so, the U.S. warns, could risk the continuation of certain military support.
Gaza Conflict Intensifies Amid Civilian Toll
The current Israeli offensive began after Hamas launched an attack on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people in Israel and taking 251 hostages. Since then, the Gaza conflict has intensified, leading to severe humanitarian repercussions. Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the UN deems reliable, reports a death toll surpassing 43,300 over 13 months, with children accounting for roughly one-third of those fatalities.
Volker Türk’s statement called for accountability and a “reckoning” over alleged violations of international law. This call underscores the urgency of addressing civilian protection in the conflict, as the death toll continues to mount and international pressure builds for stricter compliance with humanitarian standards.
A Humanitarian Crisis with Mounting Global Concern
As the Gaza conflict persists, the UN’s findings have sparked a renewed outcry from global leaders and humanitarian groups. The severe impact on women and children highlights the indiscriminate toll of urban warfare. With both sides under scrutiny, international observers are calling for stricter adherence to humanitarian laws and urgent measures to safeguard civilians.
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