In a dire warning, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed deep concern on Saturday about the potential for a significant increase in civilian casualties as Israel continues its ground operation in Gaza.
Turk emphasized that the manner in which military operations have unfolded within the context of the 56-year-old occupation raises alarms regarding the possible catastrophic consequences of large-scale ground operations in Gaza. He stressed the potential for thousands more civilians to lose their lives in the ongoing conflict.
The Israeli army maintained relentless airstrikes on Gaza after an intense overnight bombardment, which, according to rescuers, resulted in the destruction of hundreds of buildings. This marked the continuation of a war that was ignited by the deadliest attack in the country’s history.
Israel initiated its extensive bombing campaign in response to a breach of the Gaza border by Hamas gunmen on October 7, an incursion that resulted in the death of 1,400 people.
According to the health ministry in Gaza, controlled by Hamas, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of 7,703 individuals, primarily civilians, including more than 3,500 children. This conflict stands as the fifth and deadliest in Gaza since Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from the Palestinian territory in 2005.
The most recent Israeli strikes targeting Hamas, the ruling resistance group in Gaza since 2007, have been the most intense since the commencement of this war and have occurred concurrently with ground operations.
