The recent Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip have been termed a “political and humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions” by the UN’s human rights expert for the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
Francesca Albanese, appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, expressed deep concern over the extent of the assault. Since October 7, Israel has reportedly launched an average of 6,000 bombs on the area weekly.
Humanitarian Crisis Intensifies
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, backed by data from the UN Aid Coordination Office (OCHA), reported a mounting death toll of over 7,700 Palestinians since the commencement of the Israeli bombing campaign. Injuries surpassed 19,740.
UNICEF shed light on the tragic impact on children, noting that almost 2,400 children were among the casualties in Gaza. Disturbingly, women and children constituted 66 per cent of these casualties. “All schools have been targeted in some manner,” Ms Albanese pointed out.
In her address, Ms Albanese highlighted the immense damage to critical infrastructure. Schools and hospitals have not been spared, facing direct hits from the bombings. The blockade’s intensification has further aggravated the situation. “Israeli leaders are attributing blame to and penalizing all Palestinians in Gaza for the actions of Hamas and other military factions,” she stated.
The Controversial Occupation
The human rights expert did not shy away from voicing concerns over Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories. She emphasized that Israel stands as an occupying power in relation to the Palestinians, stressing the absence of an independent Palestinian state. Ms. Albanese accused the occupation of being a means “to colonize, brutalize, detain, and execute the Palestinian people arbitrarily.”
