UN Condemns Gaza Strikes, Reports 70% of Victims Are Women and Children

A UN Human Rights Office report reveals that nearly 70% of fatalities from Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza between November 2023 and April 2024 were women and children, with 2,036 women and 3,588 children among the 8,119 confirmed deaths. The highest toll affected children aged five to nine, with most casualties occurring in densely populated residential areas. The report highlights potential breaches of international law, with actions that may constitute war crimes.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the disregard for international humanitarian laws, calling for all sides to uphold laws designed to limit civilian suffering during conflicts.

The UN report stresses that Israel’s use of wide-area effect weapons in densely populated neighborhoods contributed significantly to civilian casualties. The International Court of Justice has also underscored Israel’s obligations to prevent and address potential acts of genocide, a call reinforced by multiple UN directives.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urged all parties involved to follow international norms aimed at protecting civilians, especially during active conflicts. He warned that the disregard for these rules has led to unprecedented human suffering, calling for an immediate shift towards respecting humanitarian law.

The escalation of violence began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,000 Israeli casualties and numerous kidnappings. Israel’s response—an intense air and ground campaign in northern Gaza—has led to extensive civilian harm and infrastructure destruction, drawing worldwide calls for a ceasefire as conditions in Gaza worsen.