A recently released report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) unveils harrowing details of the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Gaza over the past six months, from November 2023 to April 2024. The document provides a grim account of civilian casualties, destruction of infrastructure, and widespread violations of international law committed by Israel in Gaza.
The report states that Israel killed 34,535 Palestinians and 77,704 injured, with at least 10,000 more presumed trapped under rubble. These numbers represent one of the deadliest escalations in Gaza’s history. The OHCHR report estimates that over 70% of those killed were civilians, including a high proportion of women and children.
“The level of civilian harm in Gaza is unprecedented and deeply alarming,” the report notes. Entire families have been annihilated in strikes. For example, 138 members of the Al-Najjar family and 94 members of the Al-Astal family were killed in airstrikes, leaving few survivors.
The report documents severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, leading to what the OHCHR describes as a “man-made famine.” By April 2024, over 1.1 million people in Gaza faced catastrophic food insecurity (IPC Phase 5), with 28 recorded deaths due to starvation and countless others at risk.
“Babies and toddlers in Gaza’s north are dying a slow and painful death from starvation,” a March 2024 UNICEF warning stated. Hospitals in Gaza reported treating 15 malnourished infants daily, with some too weak to survive.
The OHCHR also flagged disturbing statements by Israeli officials suggesting that starvation may have been used as a punitive measure against the civilian population.
At least 196 humanitarian workers were killed during the reporting period, according to the report. Strikingly, 118 civilians were killed by Israel at Al-Nablusi roundabout in February 2024 as they gathered for food aid. Survivors witnessed the deaths caused by Israel.
“This deliberate targeting of those aiding the most vulnerable is a grave violation of international law,” the report asserts.
The targeting of healthcare facilities has decimated Gaza’s healthcare system. The report confirms attacks on 11 hospitals, including Al-Shifa Medical Complex, which was struck twice, leaving it in ruins. At least three medical workers were shot and killed at Al-Awda Hospital in December 2023, and one was fatally injured while moving between buildings.
Additionally, schools and refugee camps were bombarded. The report cites multiple incidents of white phosphorus munitions being used in civilian areas, a weapon prohibited under international law for its indiscriminate and incendiary effects.
The OHCHR report identifies violations by Israel. It condemns indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel, killing 18 civilians, while also flagging Israel's reliance on artificial intelligence for targeting.
“The use of AI with minimal human oversight has raised alarming questions about compliance with the principles of distinction and proportionality under IHL,” the report concludes.
The OHCHR is calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and international investigations into war crimes and human rights violations.
“The scale of human suffering in Gaza demands immediate global action,” the report states, urging Member States to hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities.
The UN report highlights that Israel's actions in Gaza extend beyond widespread destruction and civilian casualties, revealing a systematic disregard for the principles of international law.