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MADRID 13 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The UN Undersecretary General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands Kehris, stated this Tuesday before the United Nations Security Council that the “pattern” of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip indicate a “systematic violation” of fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law on distinction, proportionality and precautions.
“Israeli attacks on shelters and residential buildings continue to kill disproportionate numbers of civilians: women, men, young people and the elderly. The attacks on so-called ‘safe zones’ demonstrate that nowhere in Gaza is safe. Monitoring by our Office indicates that this unprecedented level of civilian deaths and injuries is a direct consequence of the methods and means of war chosen by the parties and their failure to comply with the fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law,” he declared.
Brands Kehris has reported that, according to data verified by its office, around 70 percent of those killed by the attacks in Gaza are children and women. In fact, the age group with the most victims is children between five and nine years old. Furthermore, he recalled that the Gazan authorities have put the death toll at more than 43,600 and the number of injuries at 103,000 since October 7, although he estimates that this balance falls short due to the number of people left under the rubble.
In addition, nearly 1.9 million people have been displaced, many of them repeatedly, including pregnant women, people with disabilities, the elderly and children. The Israeli Army’s bombings have also destroyed civil infrastructure, such as those that must be protected by International Law: hospitals, schools and basic services such as electricity or water.
Added to all this is that Israel has killed hundreds of health workers, members of the security forces, journalists and humanitarian workers, including more than 220 members of the United Nations. Meanwhile, there is “constant and continued interference” in the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid, which has fallen to one of the lowest levels all year, despite the fact that Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation to protect the Palestinian population.
Although he has highlighted that the humanitarian and human rights situation of the Palestinians throughout the enclave is “catastrophic”, he has emphasized that in northern Gaza there is a “very high probability that famine is imminent.” “This horrible possibility cannot be separated from the incessant attacks against the Human Rights of the civilian population in the area,” he said.
BLINKEN REVIEWS WITH ISRAEL THE MEASURES TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION
For his part, the Secretary of the US State Department, Antony Blinken, has met with Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, with whom he has reviewed the measures that the Israeli authorities “have taken to improve the terrible humanitarian situation within of Gaza”.
Both met the day before in Washington, as reported by Blinken’s spokesman, Matthew Miller, to address compliance with the demands made by Washington in a letter in which it gave Israel a month’s time to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. .
Dermer reported on the operational changes made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Israeli military authority in charge of the Palestinian territories, as well as on the decisions taken by the Government, as stated in a statement.
The head of US diplomacy has highlighted the “importance of ensuring that these changes lead to a real improvement in the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, including by delivering additional aid to civilians throughout Gaza”, while calling for more measures to minimize harm to civilians.
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