UN Report Highlights Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Over 45,700 Dead Amid Attacks on Health Facilities and Journalists
The UN Special Rapporteurs, Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng and Francesca Albanese, have condemned the “blatant disregard” for health rights in Gaza following the recent raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital and the arbitrary detention of its director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, Jurist News reported. The rapporteurs expressed grave concerns for Dr. Abu Safiya, who has faced harassment and detention for defying evacuation orders while fulfilling his medical duties amid ongoing Israeli attacks.
In a statement, the experts highlighted a disturbing trend of attacks on healthcare facilities, emphasizing that Israel’s actions are undermining the right to health in Gaza. They called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release of Dr. Abu Safiya, noting that such assaults are in violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The UN Human Rights Office recently reported on violations related to attacks on hospitals in Gaza from October 2023 to June 2024. It described Israeli claims that hospitals are being used for military purposes as “vague.” The Indonesian Hospital has also suffered attacks, leading to the destruction of essential resources.
As the humanitarian crisis escalates, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported new evacuation orders for civilians in the Al-Bureij area due to impending attacks. OCHA noted that attempts to coordinate humanitarian aid have faced significant obstacles, with many plans rejected outright.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 5,300 patients have been evacuated for medical treatment since October 2023, but more than 12,000 remain awaiting evacuation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that it could take 5-10 years to evacuate all critically ill patients, many of whom are children.
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 59 Palestinians were killed in the last 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since October 2023 to 45,717, with over 108,856 injuries reported. The ministry described recent Israeli actions as “massacres” against families, with many individuals still trapped under rubble.
The international community continues to voice condemnation of Israel’s actions, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Israeli leaders on charges of war crimes.
