UN Condemns Israel’s “Indifference” to Civilian Deaths in Gaza
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, has sharply criticized Israel’s “apparent indifference” to the killing of civilians in Gaza, citing a new report that found nearly 70% of verified deaths during the ongoing war were women and children, Al Jazeera reports.
The report, released Friday by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), verified 8,119 deaths out of the over 34,500 reported during the first six months of Israel’s offensive in Gaza. It revealed a disturbingly high proportion of women and children among the victims, with the youngest being a one-day-old boy and the oldest a 97-year-old woman.
Turk condemned Israel’s “wanton disregard” for international humanitarian law, specifically criticizing its failure to adhere to the “rules of war designed to limit and prevent human suffering in times of armed conflict.” He urged Israel to comply with its international obligations, noting its current siege of northern Gaza and its decision to sever ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
The report warns that “widespread or systematic” attacks on civilians could constitute “crimes against humanity.” It highlights the devastating impact of Israeli military actions, pointing to the deaths of five or more people in the same attack in 88% of the verified cases. This data, the report states, suggests the use of weapons that impact wide areas in densely populated zones.
The report also acknowledges that some deaths may have been caused by errant projectiles launched by Palestinian armed groups. However, it focuses on the “continuing unlawful failures” of the Israeli government to ensure the entry of humanitarian aid, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the repeated mass displacement of civilians.
The UN’s findings align with Palestinian claims that women and children represent a significant portion of the casualties in the war. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 43,469 Palestinians have been killed and 102,561 injured since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.
