UN Verification Shows Women and Children Account for Nearly 70% of Gaza Conflict Fatalities

The United Nations Human Rights Office has expressed strong disapproval regarding the significant civilian death toll in the Gaza conflict. Its analysis indicates that nearly 70% of the casualties verified over a six-month duration were women and children. The office attributed this elevated figure primarily to Israel’s deployment of weapons designed for wide-area impact within densely populated regions. However, it also noted that some fatalities could have stemmed from misdirected projectiles launched by Palestinian armed factions. The document stated that it identified “unprecedented” levels of breaches of international law, prompting worries about “war crimes and other possible atrocity crimes.” Previously, Israel has asserted that its operations target Hamas and that it implements measures to reduce civilian risk through the use of precise munitions. The BBC reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to request a statement concerning the report released on Friday. The UN body confirmed that it had verified information for 8,119 individuals who died in Gaza between November 2023 and April 2024. This analysis revealed that approximately 44% of the verified casualties were children, and 26% were women. The age group most frequently observed among the deceased was five to nine-year-olds. The agency further stated that roughly 80% of the victims perished in residential structures or comparable dwellings. The report asserted that the collected data points to “an apparent indifference to the death of civilians and the impact of the means and methods of warfare.” Gaza’s health ministry, administered by Hamas, whose statistics are considered dependable by the UN, has documented over 43,300 fatalities in the last 13 months. It is thought that numerous additional bodies are still buried beneath the debris of bombed structures. The health ministry indicated that it acquired comprehensive demographic information for most of the deceased, reporting that children constitute one-third of that total. In a statement, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk declared 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.” He referenced the principles of distinction, which mandates combatants to differentiate between fighters and non-combatants; proportionality, which forbids assaults where civilian harm surpasses military gain; and the necessity of taking precautions during attacks. Türk urged a “due reckoning with respect to the allegations of serious violations of international law.” The IDF has previously informed the BBC, when responding to criticism, that it “will continue to act, as it always has done, according to international law.” The report additionally stated that the manner in which the belligerent parties have prosecuted the conflict in Gaza has “caused horrific human suffering.” The UN indicated that Palestinian armed groups have operated from densely populated zones and employed projectiles indiscriminately, potentially adding to the casualty count. Concurrently, the IDF has demolished civilian infrastructure and “left many of those alive, injured, displaced and starving, without access to adequate water, food or healthcare.” The conditions are most severe in north Gaza, which humanitarian organizations report has been under siege since early October, coinciding with Israel’s initiation of a new ground offensive targeting Hamas. The UN reported that no food assistance reached the northern area during the initial two weeks of October. This development led the US to deliver an ultimatum to Israel, demanding an increase in aid by 12 November or face the potential loss of some military backing. Jan Egeland, who leads the aid organization Norwegian Refugee Council, informed the BBC on Friday that during a recent trip to Gaza, he witnessed “devastation, despair, beyond belief.” He stated, “There is hardly a building that is not damaged. And large areas looked like Stalingrad after the Second World War. You cannot fathom how intense this indiscriminate bombing has been on this trapped population.” He further remarked, “It’s evident that it is first and foremost children and women who are paying a price for this senseless war.” Israel initiated its ongoing military campaign in Gaza following Hamas’ assault on 7 October 2023, which resulted in 1,200 deaths in Israel and the abduction of 251 hostages to Gaza.