UN condemns Gaza bombardment, says 70% of fatalities are women, children

Nearly 70 per cent of the verified deaths resulting from Israel’s bombardment of Gaza between November 2023 and April 2024 were women and children, according to a new report from the United Nations Human Rights Office.

The report, published on Friday, revealed that out of 8,119 confirmed fatalities in Gaza during the six-month period, 2,036 were women and 3,588 were children, including 1,865 boys and 1,723 girls.

The age group most represented among the deceased was five to nine years old. The UN agency noted that the majority of casualties — approximately 80 per cent — occurred in residential buildings, attributing the high death toll to Israel’s use of weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated neighbourhoods.

The findings indicate possible breaches of international law, with some actions potentially amounting to war crimes.

The UN agency said it found “breaches of international law that in many instances could amount to war crimes.”

“The International Court of Justice, in its series of orders on provisional measures, underscored the international obligations of Israel to prevent, protect against, and punish acts of genocide and associated prohibited conduct,” the report stated.

The report also acknowledged that a portion of the fatalities may have resulted from errant projectiles fired by Palestinian armed groups.

“The wanton disregard” for international law surrounding wars and the actions “has led to the current extremes of human suffering,” said the chief of the UN’s Human Rights Office, Volker Türk.

He stresed that the rules of war, established over 160 years ago, were intended to limit human suffering in times of armed conflict but were being ignored by the conflicting parties.

The International Court of Justice has reiterated Israel’s obligation under international law to prevent and punish acts of genocide, as highlighted in its series of orders on provisional measures.

Türk called on all parties to adhere to internationally accepted norms aimed at preserving basic human rights and minimising civilian casualties.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, escalated dramatically on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing over 1,000 people and kidnapping several others.

Israel responded with a large-scale military operation, targeting northern Gaza with heavy airstrikes and ground assaults, leading to significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction.

The ongoing violence has drawn international condemnation and renewed calls for a ceasefire as humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate.

The UN has called for immediate measures to protect civilians and uphold international law, warning of the severe consequences of continued escalation.