The United Nations condemned the extensive civilian loss in Gaza due to the ongoing conflict, with its latest findings revealing that nearly 70% of the casualties were women and children. The UN human rights office shared a report on Friday, November 9, 2024, detailing the grave impact on civilians in both Gaza and Israel since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas in Israel.
The report attributes the high civilian toll to the use of wide-range weapons in Gaza’s densely populated areas. While some casualties could be from stray rockets fired by Palestinian groups, the UN expressed serious concern over what it termed as “unprecedented” breaches of international law, suggesting potential war crimes and atrocities.
The UN agency confirmed the deaths of 8,119 people in Gaza between November 2023 and April 2024, noting that 44% of these were children and 26% were women. Most victims were identified as having been killed in residential structures or similar settings. Children between the ages of five and nine were disproportionately represented among the deceased.
The report further suggested an apparent disregard for civilian life and the impact of warfare methods. Gaza’s health ministry, which the UN recognizes as credible, reported over 43,300 deaths in Gaza over the past 13 months, with many more presumed trapped beneath the debris of bombed buildings. According to the ministry, one-third of those casualties were children.
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk emphasized the severe impact on civilians as a result of the conflict’s disregard for international humanitarian principles, including rules on distinguishing combatants from civilians, ensuring proportionality, and taking precautions during attacks. Türk called for accountability regarding reported violations of international law.
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