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ARCHIVE - Relatives and friends mourn at the Nova Festival site on October 7 to mark the first anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Photo: Ilia yefimovich/dpa
Keystone
A UN report shows that many of the casualties in the Gaza Strip are children. Most of the victims are between five and nine years old.
A recent report by the UN Human Rights Office reveals that a shockingly high number of children were among the casualties in the Gaza Strip in the first six months of the conflict. The verified data shows that most of the victims are between five and nine years old. A total of 8,119 deaths were confirmed from November 2023 to April 2024, with 80 percent of victims dying in civilian homes. Women and minors account for 70 percent of the deaths. Children aged ten to 14 and newborns up to the age of four are also particularly affected.
However, the actual number of fatalities could be much higher, as many cases have not yet been verified and numerous people are suspected to be under the rubble. According to the Hamas authorities, which cannot be independently verified, over 40,000 people are believed to have been killed in the Gaza Strip.
The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other groups killed over 1,200 people and abducted 250 others in the Gaza Strip during an attack on Israel. Around 100 of these hostages are still there. Israel responded with intensive military attacks, which continue to this day, with the aim of destroying Hamas.
The UN Human Rights Office points out that war crimes and crimes against humanity may have been committed in this conflict. There is a possibility of genocide if certain population groups are deliberately exterminated on the basis of their ethnicity, religion or nationality. The final determination of such crimes is the responsibility of international courts based on the investigations of human rights experts.
The report also criticizes the actions of both parties to the conflict. It highlights statements by Israeli politicians who have called for the destruction of the Gaza Strip and the expulsion of Palestinians. The blockade of Gaza, the prevention of humanitarian aid and the repeated destruction of homes have led to numerous deaths, injuries and illnesses.
On the other hand, Hamas and other armed groups have been accused of serious violations of the law, including the killing of civilians, sexual violence, destruction of homes and hostage-taking during the October 7 attacks. These acts could also be classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity.
08.11.2024, 11:03
