UN Reported by Nearly 70% of Verified Gaza War Dead Are Women and Children

The UN Human Rights Office has raised serious concerns over the civilian casualties in Gaza, revealing that nearly 70% of the fatalities it has verified were women and children. The findings, based on independent verification from three sources, highlight a disturbing pattern of violations of international humanitarian law.

As of the latest report, 8,119 fatalities have been confirmed, a significantly lower number than the 43,000 reported by Palestinian health authorities. However, the age and gender breakdown of victims supports the claim that a disproportionate number of casualties are civilians, particularly women and children.

The UN report condemns what it describes as a “systematic violation” of international law, specifically the principles of distinction and proportionality, which govern the conduct of hostilities in armed conflicts. “The failure to comply with these basic principles has led to an unprecedented level of civilian suffering,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

The report also notes that around 80% of the verified deaths occurred in Israeli attacks on residential buildings, with nearly 90% of the fatalities resulting from incidents involving five or more victims. The UN has called for credible investigations into these violations and stressed the need for impartial judicial bodies to address the situation.