70% of those killed in Gaza are women and children: UN report
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This latest report has sounded the alarm about systematic violations of laws meant to protect non-combatants during conflict.
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A Palestinian bids farewell to a relative killed in Israeli airstrikes, in a morgue in the city of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (AP)
The UN Human Rights Office revealed in a recent report that nearly 70% of those killed in Gaza from November 2023 to April 2024 are women and children, describing this high civilian toll as a severe breach of international humanitarian law.
This latest report has sounded the alarm about systematic violations of laws meant to protect non-combatants during conflict.
The report attributes the high civilian death toll to "Israel's" use of weapons with expansive area effects in Gaza's densely populated urban zones.
"Our monitoring indicates that this unprecedented level of killing and injury of civilians is a direct consequence of the failure to comply with fundamental principles of international humanitarian law – namely the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precautions in attack," stated UN human rights chief Volker Turk.
Young children and babies
According to the detailed analysis, about 80% of the victims were killed in residential buildings or similar housing, out of which 44% were children and 26% were women.
The most represented verified fatalities were children aged 5 to 9, between ages 10 to 14, and babies and children from 0 to 4 years old. The report also verified that the youngest victim was a one-day-old boy, while the oldest was a 97-year-old woman.
"It is essential that there is due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law through credible and impartial judicial bodies," Turk said, stressing the importance of collecting and preserving evidence.
Crimes against humanity
The UN report raised the prospect of war crimes and, in some scenarios, crimes against humanity, if "Israel's" conduct is found to involve a systematic or widespread attack against civilians.
Crimes of this nature, if committed with intent to destroy a group in whole or part, may also be considered genocide, according to the report.
However, UN spokesperson Jeremy Laurance clarified that the office does not make determinations of crimes but provides information for local or international courts to consider and make such determinations.
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The report comes amid widespread international calls for a ceasefire and intensified scrutiny of "Israel's" actions in Gaza.
Despite these appeals, "Israel" has yet to provide a response to the report and has reportedly killed over 43,000 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
