70% of deaths in Gaza are women, children: UN
What's the story
The United Nations (UN) has disclosed that nearly 70% of the confirmed deaths in Gaza are women and children. The data was compiled by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which verified 8,119 deaths among over 34,500 reported during Israel's six-month-long war in Gaza. The report also revealed that children make up 44% of the victims, with those aged five to nine years being the worst affected. The youngest victim was one-day-old.
Civilian impact
UN report criticizes Israel's 'indifference' to civilian casualties
Reacting to the report, UN human rights chief Volker Turk strongly condemned Israel's "apparent indifference" to civilian casualties and its "wanton disregard" for international humanitarian law. He called on Israel to meet its international obligations, especially regarding its siege of northern Gaza and cutting ties with the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). Systematic attacks on civilians could be "crimes against humanity" or genocide if aimed at destroying a specific group, the report warned.
Weapon usage
UN report highlights use of wide-impact weapons
The UN report also noted that in 88% of cases, five or more people were killed in a single attack. This indicates the use of wide-impact weapons in densely populated areas, it added Some deaths may have been caused by errant projectiles by Palestinian armed groups. The report also pointed to "the Israeli government's continuing unlawful failures to allow, facilitate and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, and repeated mass displacement."
Conflict background
Israel's response and Hamas's appeal to US
Israel is yet to respond to the report's findings. The Israeli military launched its offensive after Hamas terrorists attacked the Jewish nation on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people in southern Israel and taking over 250 hostages. Israel claims it tries to avoid civilian harm and blames Hamas for civilian casualties due to using civilian facilities as shields, a claim Hamas denies.