United Nations officials have called on Israel and Palestinian armed groups to stop targeting civilians and allow them access to basic services. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Tuesday issued an urgent plea to all states with influence to take steps to defuse the “powder keg” situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). He stressed that international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law must be respected in all circumstances.
“We are faced with an explosive powder keg situation. We know how this plays out, time and time again – the loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives and incalculable suffering inflicted on both communities,” Türk said.
“All parties must respect international humanitarian law. They must immediately cease attacks targeting civilians and attacks expected to cause disproportionate death and injury of civilians or damage to civilian objects.”
Saturday morning, Palestinian armed groups launched thousands of rockets toward Israel and conducted a coordinated, surprise multipronged attack on several Israeli towns and cities, killing, injuring and kidnapping hundreds of Israelis and some foreign nationals. More than 1000 Israelis, most of them civilians, were reportedly killed and more than 3,400 injured.
The UN High Commissioner said he was “deeply shocked and appalled by allegations of summary executions of civilians, and, in some instances, horrifying mass killings by members of Palestinian armed groups.”
“It is horrific and deeply distressing to see images of those captured by Palestinian armed groups being ill-treated, as well as reports of killings and the desecration of their bodies,” he said. “Civilians must never be used as bargaining chips.”
“I call on Palestinian armed groups to immediately and unconditionally release all civilians who were captured and are still being held. The taking of hostages is prohibited by international law,” Türk said.
Following the large-scale attack, the Israeli cabinet declared war and the military begun launching indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in the Gaza Strip over the past four days, killing more than 800 Palestinian civilians and wounding more than 4,300. Among those killed are at least 143 children, 105 women, and 6 healthcare workers.
Information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) indicates that Israeli air attacks have also hit large residential towers in Gaza City and other residential buildings across Gaza, schools and premises of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), resulting in civilian casualties. Numerous buildings in Gaza City, a densely populated area, were completely destroyed.
In Gaza, at least 200,000 of the 2.2 million residents, have been displaced after fleeing for fear of their lives or their houses were destroyed by airstrikes. Most of them are taking shelter in schools operated by UNRWA. At least two of the UN schools have already been damaged by airstrikes in the area.
For its part, UNRWA said it is sheltering about 137,000 people in 83 of its schools in all areas of the Gaza Strip. On Monday night, a building housing the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City sustained significant damage as a result of airstrikes nearby. The UN agency said all UN international staff present in Gaza were taking shelter in another building within the same compound.
“International humanitarian law is clear: the obligation to take constant care to spare the civilian population and civilian objects remains applicable throughout the attacks,” the UN human rights chief said, noting that the principles of distinction and the prohibition of indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks are paramount.
On October 9, Israeli authorities ordered a “full siege” of Gaza, shutting off electricity, water, food and fuel supplies. The UN Human Rights Office said a blockade of Gaza risks seriously compounding the already dire human rights and humanitarian situation there, including the capacity of medical facilities to operate, especially in light of increasing numbers of injured.
“The imposition of sieges that endanger the lives of civilians by depriving them of goods essential for their survival is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” Türk said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was "deeply distressed" that Israel plans to put the entire Gaza Strip under a complete siege, not allowing in food or fuel or supplying it with electricity.
"The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now, it will only deteriorate exponentially. Medical equipment, food, fuel and other humanitarian supplies are desperately needed, along with access for humanitarian personnel. Relief and entry of essential supplies into Gaza must be facilitated – and the UN will continue efforts to provide aid to respond to these needs,” Guterres said.
Earlier, Guterres called for an immediate end to attacks on Israel and the release of all hostages. He also warned Israel's army to carry out their operations in accordance with international law.
"I recognize the legitimate grievances of the Palestinian people, but nothing can justify these acts of terror and the killing, maiming and abduction of civilians," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters following an emergency meeting of senior UN officials.
The ongoing escalation of violence notably in and around Gaza raises grave humanitarian concerns. According to UN officials, humanitarian assistance is required in particular in the areas of shelter, health care, water and sanitation, food, and protection. The Israeli attacks have led to grave humanitarian consequences. Homes, schools, medical facilities, and other infrastructure have been damaged and destroyed.
Fuel, electricity, and water supplies from Israel into Gaza are cut off. Damage to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities has already affected services to more than 400,000 people. The disruption of Gaza's water supply will affect over 610,000 people in the Gaza Strip and will result in a severe shortage of drinking water.
The UN said Monday the Gaza power plant is now the only source of electricity in Gaza and could run out of fuel within days. Palestinians in Gaza now only have electricity to 3-4 hours per day, hindering the ability of health facilities to function and treat those injured.
“Israeli authorities have cut their water supply to Gaza, reducing an already scarce availability of potable water. And in accordance with the complete siege ordered by the Israeli Government on Gaza, access to electricity, food, and fuel have also been severed, inevitably worsening the already dire humanitarian situation”, warned Lynn Hastings, the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in a statement Tuesday.
“The United Nations and its humanitarian partners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are working to meet acute needs, in particular shelter, in dangerous circumstances. However, access for humanitarian staff and supplies into Gaza has also been cut and the intensity of the hostilities is limiting the ability of staff to deliver aid”, she said.
“All relevant actors must allow humanitarian teams and goods to immediately and safely reach the hundreds of thousands of people in need.”
The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Tuesday the Israeli military continued to violate International Humanitarian Law by targeting civilians and civilian objects, and destroying the infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, which people depend on to survive. PRCS also called on the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for the grave breaches of IHL, which may amount to war crimes.
Guterres said Monday he and UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland were speaking with regional leaders to voice their concern and outrage, and to advance efforts to avoid any spillover to the wider Middle East.
The UN chief said the recent events did not happen in a vacuum.
"The reality is that it grows out of a long-standing conflict, with a 56-year long occupation and no political end in sight. It’s time to end this vicious circle of bloodshed, hatred and polarization," Guterres said.
He urged a negotiated peace in the form of a two-state solution that fulfills Israel's needs for security and the national aspirations of the Palestinians.
Also Monday, the World Food Programme (WFP) began distributing food for up to 100,000 internally displaced Gazans who are seeking refuge in UNRWA shelters with fresh bread and canned food. In the next few days, WFP plans on starting to roll out assistance to up to 800,000 people with food and cash assistance as the situation develops.
Humanitarian organizations around the world have also called on the parties to the conflict to stop killing civilians and to protect them from harm, among them the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“Civilians always pay the highest price in conflict. At this critical moment, we urge the parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and to take every possible step to prevent civilians from further harm. All sides must exercise restraint and protect civilian lives and property”, said Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), on Tuesday.
“Critical infrastructure that people depend on to live – including electricity and water networks – must not be targeted. Irrespective of any military siege, the authorities must ensure that civilians have access to basic necessities, including safe water, food and medical care”, she added.
Before the situation escalated, the United Nations estimated that 2.1 million Palestinians across the Occupied Palestinian Territories needed humanitarian assistance this year. Among them were more than 1 million children. The people in need represented 58 percent of the population in Gaza and one quarter of people living in the West Bank.
Further information
Full text: UN Human Rights Chief urges States to defuse “powder keg” situation in Israel and OPT, as incalculable suffering, massive death tolls take hold, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, statement, released October 10, 2023
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/un-human-rights-chief-urges-states-defuse-powder-keg-situation-israel-and
Full text: Statement by the Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lynn Hastings, on the hostilities between Palestinian armed groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, statement, released October 10, 2023
https://www.ochaopt.org/content/statement-humanitarian-coordinator-occupied-palestinian-territory-lynn-hastings-hostilities-between-palestinian
Full text: The Palestine Red Crescent Society Warns of the Humanitarian Crisis in the Gaza Strip, Palestine Red Crescent Society statement, released October 10, 2023
https://www.palestinercs.org/en/Article/11371/The-Palestine-Red-Crescent-Society-Warns-of-the-Humanitarian-Crisis-in-the-Gaza-Strip
Full text: Israel and the Occupied Territories: Targeting civilians leads to further spirals of violence and hatred, International Committee of the Red Cross, press release, published October 10, 2023
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/israel-and-occupied-territories-targeting-civilians-leads-further-spirals-violence-and-hatred