Geneva, UN experts today strongly condemned the ongoing violence against Palestinians in Gaza, particularly noting the high number of women and children among the victims. The condemnation follows the discovery of mass graves and evidence suggesting extreme violations, including torture and summary executions. The experts highlighted the severe impact on female and young populations in the conflict, exacerbated by the deliberate targeting of medical facilities and denial of healthcare access.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated over the past seven months with over 390 bodies, many showing signs of severe mistreatment, found in recent mass graves. The data reveals that out of 34,488 Palestinians killed, 14,500 are children and 9,500 are women. Additionally, the ongoing conflict has led to catastrophic levels of displacement and food insecurity, with over 1.7 million internally displaced and 1.1 million facing extreme food shortages.
The plight of pregnant women and newborns in Gaza is particularly dire. Approximately 50,000 pregnant women and 20,000 babies face critical health risks due to the destruction of healthcare infrastructure and shortages of medical supplies. The bombardment has also resulted in significant increases in miscarriages and the deaths of infants due to inadequate neonatal care. Furthermore, the systematic destruction of housing has left many women and girls in vulnerable living conditions, significantly affecting their security and privacy.
The experts also addressed the broader context of these atrocities, noting that such acts of violence against women and children are not only egregious violations of human rights but also contravene international humanitarian laws designed to protect the most vulnerable. They called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged international intervention to stop the export of arms used in these attacks.