A report issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights indicates that, based on the verification of the identities of victims killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza, approximately 70% of the recorded casualties consist of women and children.
This analysis follows a previous report published by the Commission, which comprehensively details the dire conditions faced by the populations of Israel and Gaza since 7 October 2023. The document underscores the imperative need to ensure justice in the face of serious violations of international humanitarian law that have been observed.
In a press statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed deep concerns regarding the actions of the Israeli armed forces, particularly in relation to forced displacements, alleged systematic attacks on medical facilities and journalists, as well as reports of the use of white phosphorus munitions.
The report conducts an in-depth analysis of civilian killings and violations of international law, which, in many instances, may amount to war crimes. It emphasizes that if these violations occur as part of a widespread or systematic attack targeting a civilian population, carried out in furtherance of a state or organizational policy, they could constitute crimes against humanity. Furthermore, the report warns that if these acts are committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, they may be classified as genocide.
The document also highlights repeated statements from Israeli officials linking the end of hostilities to the complete destruction of Gaza and the forced displacement of the Palestinian population. It documents efforts aimed at legitimizing discrimination, aggression, and violence against Palestinians, even suggesting their extermination.
The report details the heavy toll borne by civilians as a result of the attacks, including the "total blockade" imposed by Israeli forces at the outset of the hostilities, as well as the ongoing illegal prohibition by the Israeli government of humanitarian aid access, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the repeated mass displacement of populations. According to the report's findings, these practices by Israeli forces have led to unprecedented levels of death, injury, starvation, disease, and epidemics.
The International Court of Justice, through a series of orders on provisional measures, has reiterated "the international obligations incumbent upon Israel to prevent, prohibit, and punish acts of genocide." The High Commissioner urged states to fulfill their duty to prevent mass atrocities, calling on them to support accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, in relation to the ongoing conflict, as well as to exercise universal jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of crimes before their national courts, in accordance with international law and standards.