Close to 70% of those killed in Gaza are women and children (UN)
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced on Friday that nearly 70% of the victims of the Zionist genocide in Gaza are women and children. This statement condemned the “systematic violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.”
The office released these figures in a comprehensive 32-page report covering the six-month period from November 2023 to April 2024. The Bureau verified personal data concerning individuals killed in Gaza due to airstrikes, bombings, and other forms of hostilities, revealing that “nearly 70% of these victims were children and women,” highlighting a systematic violation of key principles of international humanitarian law, particularly those of distinction and proportionality.
The ongoing attacks, which indiscriminately target civilians, demonstrate “a blatant disregard for the lives of non-combatants and the ramifications of the chosen means and methods of warfare,” the report stated.
“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 and that, in the meantime, all relevant information and evidence are collected and preserved,” said Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
According to a detailed analysis, approximately 80% of the victims were killed in residential buildings or similar dwellings, with 44% being children and 26% women.
“The high number of fatalities per attack was principally due to the Israeli use of weapons with wide area effects in densely populated areas,” the report indicated.
The most frequently recorded casualties included children aged 5 to 9 years, 10 to 14 years, as well as infants and children aged 0 to 4 years. The youngest confirmed victim was a one-day-old boy, while the oldest was a 97-year-old woman.
“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,” Turk said.
He called for an immediate cessation of violence and underscored the urgent need to focus on delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza.
