Attachments
The UN Human Rights Office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory condemns the Israeli military’s wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure as it intensifies its bombardment of Gaza City since 11 September, as well as expanding attacks on the northwestern parts of the strip, where the population had sought shelter from previous attacks. The ongoing bombings of residential buildings in Gaza City are destroying the last viable element of Gaza’s civilian infrastructure, negating any prospect for the survival of civilians.
Palestinians are being forced to leave Gaza City in large numbers, as the Israeli military continues attacking and destroying any building that serves or could serve as a shelter. Attacks have been directed at residential areas, including multi-storey buildings, tents, schools, as well as other public infrastructure. Reports also indicate the destruction of whole neighbourhoods through controlled detonations.
From 11 to 15 September, the Office recorded at least 108 incidents involving attacks on or destruction of residential buildings in northern Gaza, including 21 in Ash Shati’ Camp, northwestern Gaza City, and 12 in Tal al Hawa, southwestern Gaza City. Separately, IDP tents, Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Interior buildings were also targeted, as well as at least 5 schools, 4 of which were in Ash Shati’ Camp, and 1 university was struck.
While the Israeli military repeatedly claims that it is targeting undefined “terrorist infrastructure,” it has failed to provide evidence that the buildings attacked or destroyed amounted to military objectives, whose damage or destruction, at the time they were attacked, offered a definite military advantage.
Many Palestinians are being killed in these attacks, the vast majority of whom appear to be civilians. On 12 September, an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in At Twam, western Jabalya, killed at least 17 Palestinians, including 10 children (6 boys, 4 girls) and 2 women. The total number of casualties from attacks on buildings serving as shelters is difficult to assess, as many bodies are still buried under the rubble.
Meanwhile, on 12 September, the Israeli military closed the critical Zikim crossing to northern Gaza, completely halting the flow of humanitarian aid and potentially exacerbating famine in the area. While mass displacement, including to the south, has steadily increased, humanitarian actors in the south struggle to accommodate the influx of displaced people into an already crowded area with extremely limited resources. Reports indicate a rise in protection incidents as a result of the forced displacement, limited availability of basic supplies, and congested displacement sites. Shelter assistance is the most urgent need to ensure dignity and safety in displacement. Yet, Israeli authorities continue to restrict the entry of tents and other materials at scale into the Gaza Strip.
The UN Human Rights Office in the occupied Palestinian territory reiterates its calls on Israel’s military to immediately put an end to its wanton destruction of Gaza City, which appears to be focused on causing a permanent demographic shift, which is tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The conduct of the Israeli military in Gaza also raises concerns of the commission of the whole range of crimes under international law. The international community must take concrete actions to stop the senseless destruction, killings and displacement.
ENDS
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ohchr-opt-media@un.org
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