What's happened
The UN Human Rights Office reports nearly 70% of verified fatalities in the Gaza war are women and children, totaling 8,119 deaths. Israel rejects the findings, citing Hamas's role in civilian harm. The report highlights a systematic violation of international humanitarian law amid ongoing conflict.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the UN Human Rights Office, 8,119 Palestinians have been verified as killed, including 3,588 children, with nearly 80% of deaths occurring in residential areas. Volker Türk, the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that the report reflects a systematic violation of international humanitarian law. In contrast, Israel's diplomatic mission to the UN rejected the report, claiming it misrepresents the situation and overlooks Hamas's role in civilian harm. The Independent noted that the youngest verified victim was a one-day-old boy, emphasizing the tragic impact on children. The Axios report reiterated the UN's call for accountability, highlighting the need for credible investigations into the allegations of war crimes.
How we got here
The Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, was triggered by Hamas's attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis. The UN's report reflects verified deaths over the first seven months, contrasting sharply with higher estimates from Palestinian health authorities.
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Gaza may refer to:
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.