As the death toll in Gaza surpasses 40,000, with most of the victims being women and children, UN rights chief Volker Türk urged an immediate end to the violence and called for the release of all hostages. His statement comes as negotiators in Qatar work towards ending the conflict and preventing a broader war.
Türk emphasized that the high number of casualties is largely due to the Israeli Defense Forces’ repeated failures to adhere to the rules of war. Over the past 10 months, an average of 130 people have been killed daily in Gaza, based on data from local health authorities. The UN rights chief described the widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, schools, and places of worship by the Israeli military as “deeply shocking.”
Türk also highlighted serious violations of international humanitarian law by both the Israeli military and Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas, responsible for the October 7 terror attacks in southern Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages.
In the midst of the ongoing conflict, a few in Gaza found a brief respite at a recently restored water pumping station in Khan Younis, where children and families could access clean water and momentarily escape the dire situation. The facility, repaired by UNRWA, now pumps over 500 cubic meters of clean drinking water daily to about 100,000 displaced people.
However, the severe shortage of clean water in Gaza continues to pose significant challenges, forcing many families to travel long distances in extreme heat to access water, while others rely on unsafe sources. Despite ongoing Israeli bombing, efforts to provide water continue, with tankers delivering water to those unable to reach the station.
Meanwhile, new evacuation orders from the Israeli military have further impacted communities in Khan Younis, disrupting essential services and displacing more residents as the conflict persists.
