Survey Finds Over 100,000 Civilians Killed in 23 Global Conflicts Amid Rising Humanitarian Law Violations

Survey Finds Over 100,000 Civilians Killed in 23 Global Conflicts Amid Rising Humanitarian Law Violations
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A new survey conducted by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights has found that more than 100,000 civilians have been killed worldwide over the past 18 months, Arab News reported.

According to the survey, adherence to international humanitarian law (IHL) has reached a “critical breaking point.” The “War Watch” survey examined conflicts from July 2024 to December 2025 across 23 countries.

The report identified Gaza as one of the most concerning conflict zones, noting that since Israel’s October 2023 invasion, 18,592 children and 12,400 women have been killed. Gaza’s population has reportedly declined by about 254,000 people, a 10.6 percent drop, despite a ceasefire agreement late last year, with civilian casualties continuing.

The survey also highlighted atrocities in Sudan, particularly following the capture of El-Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces in October 2024, where widespread reports documented sexual violence against survivors, including incidents in front of relatives.

The report called for urgent measures to reduce civilian suffering, including arms export bans to countries at risk of using weapons to commit violations, restrictions on drones, AI targeting, and imprecise munitions in civilian areas, and increased support for the systematic prosecution of war crimes, including through the International Criminal Court.

It emphasized that IHL, established after World War II under the Geneva Conventions, must be upheld by all states, and addressing widespread impunity for violations should be treated as a global policy priority.