By Peter Kenny
GENEVA (AA) – Nearly 200 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza, including around 180 UN staff in six months, and over 33,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed in Israel, the UN human rights office said Friday.
"This week, the world was shocked by Israel's killing of seven people working for World Central Kitchen," said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
"As we approach six months of hostilities, it is with deep sadness and outrage that we reflect on the devastation and death toll in Israel and Gaza."
Speaking at a UN news conference, Laurence said: "Over 33,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, are dead, 75,000 or more are injured, and at least 7,000 are presumed dead under the rubble."
Laurence said that more than 1,200 died in Israel and hundreds were injured in the conflict that has unfurled since Hamas attacked Israel and took more than 200 hostages into Gaza.
He said that more than 100 hostages remain in captivity, while vast swathes of Gaza have been bombed into oblivion.
"The Gaza Strip has changed forever," said the UN official.
He said the violations of international law committed since Oct. 7 in Israel and Gaza, including gross violations of international human rights law and serious violations of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict.
In addition, the destruction and suffering of civilians in Gaza over the last six months are unprecedented, he added.
- Further atrocity risks
The risk of further atrocity crimes remains high, said Laurence.
"The world has collectively spoken that this carnage and wanton destruction must end immediately. The hostages must be released unconditionally," said the UN official.
"Humanitarian aid and other goods necessary for the survival of the civilian population must be allowed to flood into Gaza and be safely distributed to every part of the Strip."
Laurence said the human rights office chief Volker Turk stressed again that there must be accountability for the violations of international human rights and humanitarian law that have been perpetrated.
He has said there must be a renewed resolve to reach a political solution to ensure Palestinians' rights to self-determination, equality, and non-discrimination.
Such resolve should guarantee that Palestinians and Israelis can live side by side in peace.
"The occupation must end. This should not just be rhetoric, but action is needed now," said Laurence.
He said the Israeli airstrikes that killed World Central Kitchen personnel underline the horrific conditions under which humanitarian workers are operating in Gaza.
He also noted that Israel has also killed law enforcement officials and others involved in securing humanitarian aid delivery, directly contributing to the breakdown of civil order and putting humanitarian workers and those in need of aid in further danger.
"Following these latest attacks, NGOs, including the World Central Kitchen and Anera, have suspended aid delivery and distribution to Palestinians in Gaza, increasing the already real risk of more deaths from famine and disease at a larger scale," said Laurence.
He said international law requires all parties to respect and protect humanitarian relief personnel and ensure their safety, security, and freedom of movement.
"Israel, as the occupying power, has the additional obligation to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the basic needs of the population of Gaza are met," said Laurence.
"This means that it must ensure the provision of food and medical care to the population commensurate with its needs, and if it is unable to do so, it must facilitate the work of humanitarian organizations to deliver that assistance and the population's access to it in a safe and dignified manner."