About 70% of deaths in Gaza are women and children, the United Nations says

CNN
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Several United Nations agencies are again sounding the alarm about the rapid deterioration of humanitarian conditions in large parts of the Gaza Strip and the civilian casualties of more than a year of Israeli military operations.

In a detailed report on the death toll in Gaza in the first six months of the conflict, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) found that almost 70 percent were children and women, indicating a systematic violation of fundamental principles of international law points out “humanitarian law” on the part of the Israeli military.

The continuation of these attacks “demonstrates an apparent indifference to the deaths of civilians and the impact of the chosen means and methods of warfare,” the report said.

It added that 80% of confirmed deaths were killed in residential buildings or similar accommodation, of which 44% were children and 26% were women.

The OHCHR said it found a pattern that “shows high numbers of babies and young children, women, the elderly and families killed together in residential buildings.”

U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said the report showed that civilian casualties were “a direct result of failure to comply with fundamental principles of international humanitarian law – namely the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution in attacks.”

He said this pattern continued unabated “more than a year after the start of the war.”

CNN has asked the Israeli government for a response to the OHCHR report.

The UN children’s agency UNICEF said on Friday that “at least 64 attacks on schools – almost two a day – were recorded in the Gaza Strip last month.”

An estimated 128 people were reportedly killed in the attacks, including many children, it said.

According to UNICEF, the latest estimates indicate that almost half of the attacks recorded in October occurred in northern Gaza, “where renewed heavy bombing, mass displacement and the lack of adequate aid are pushing children to the brink.”

The Israeli military repeatedly claims that Hamas is using schools and other facilities for displaced civilians as a cover for its operations.

UNICEF also said that more than 95% of schools in Gaza have been partially or completely destroyed since hostilities began.

A World Health Organization report on food availability in Gaza concluded Friday that “there is a strong possibility that famine is at risk” in areas of the northern Gaza Strip, where many of Israel’s recent operations have been focused.

“Hunger, malnutrition and excess mortality from malnutrition and disease are increasing rapidly in these areas. Famine thresholds may have already been exceeded or will be exceeded in the near future,” it said.

The report cited UN data that aid shipments to the Gaza Strip are now at their lowest point in the past year. Monitoring by the World Food Program showed that the average number of trucks entering the Gaza Strip fell to just 58 per day in the second half of October, the lowest level since November last year.

Before the war began, around 500 commercial and aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip every day.

The WHO report also states that food prices in Gaza have increased by 312% since the start of the conflict.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Saturday the report was “deeply alarming.” In a post on

The Israeli authority responsible for transferring aid to Gaza dismissed the report warning of impending famine in northern Gaza, saying such reports in the past were “systematically based on organizations with vested interests and sometimes inaccurate knowledge.” “.

In a statement to CNN, COGAT said Israeli forces “have repeatedly called on residents of the northern Gaza Strip to move away from areas of intense fighting.” Parallel to humanitarian assistance to the north, there are extensive and evolving humanitarian efforts for the central and southern Gaza Strip.”

It added: “The IDF, through COGAT, operates in accordance with international law and continues to facilitate and facilitate the transfer of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza Strip. In the last two months, 39,000 trucks carrying over 840,000 tons of food have entered the Gaza Strip.”