An Analytical Review of the Gaza Conflict: Human Rights Violations and Civilian Impact
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has drawn global attention to the grave humanitarian crisis in the region, with increasing reports of civilian deaths and widespread destruction. A recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the disproportionate number of civilian casualties in Gaza, particularly women and children, and highlighted severe violations of international humanitarian law by all parties involved in the conflict. The analysis, based on verified data from November 2023 to April 2024, underscores the extreme human suffering in Gaza and raises critical questions about the tactics employed by the warring parties—particularly Israel.
Civilian Casualties: A Stark Reality
According to the UN report, an alarming 70% of the verified victims in Gaza during this six-month period were women and children. Of the 8,119 deaths documented, approximately 44% were children, with the five to nine-year age group representing the largest segment. Women accounted for 26% of the casualties. The report underscores the fact that these deaths were concentrated in residential areas, with around 80% of victims killed in their homes or similar civilian structures. The UN’s Human Rights Office argues that this pattern of mass civilian casualties, particularly among non-combatants, reveals a systemic disregard for human life and a failure to adhere to the fundamental principles of international law that protect civilians during armed conflict.
The primary cause of these civilian deaths is linked to Israel’s military strategy, which has relied heavily on the use of weapons with wide-area effects, such as bombs and artillery, in densely populated urban areas. Such tactics have resulted in indiscriminate destruction and have left many civilians caught in the crossfire. The UN Human Rights Office has described the resulting toll as “unprecedented,” warning that these actions could constitute violations of international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
While Israel has repeatedly defended its military operations by claiming that its strikes are aimed at Hamas, and that it takes measures to minimize civilian harm, the report paints a starkly different picture. According to UN officials, the scale of the civilian suffering, the high proportion of women and children among the victims, and the widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, suggests a level of indifference toward the harm inflicted on non-combatants. The widespread use of heavy artillery, airstrikes, and the targeting of residential areas raise serious concerns about proportionality and the failure to distinguish between combatants and civilians—two critical tenets of international humanitarian law.
The report highlights “unprecedented levels of international law violations,” particularly with regard to Israel’s use of indiscriminate weaponry in civilian areas. International humanitarian law, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions, mandates that warring parties must distinguish between military targets and civilians and that any attack causing excessive harm to civilians relative to the expected military advantage is prohibited. Furthermore, the principle of precaution requires that all feasible steps be taken to minimize civilian harm during military operations.
The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, explicitly stated that the level of civilian casualties in Gaza is a direct consequence of Israel’s failure to comply with these fundamental principles. He called for accountability, urging a “due reckoning” over the allegations of war crimes and other serious violations of international law.
Israel has, of course, disputed these accusations, maintaining that its military operations are targeted at Hamas and that it operates in accordance with international law. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have argued that they aim to minimize civilian casualties by employing precision-guided munitions and issuing warnings before strikes. However, this claim has been increasingly difficult to accept in light of the overwhelming evidence of large-scale civilian deaths, many of whom were children or elderly civilians caught in the crossfire.
Furthermore, the UN report indicates that the destruction of civilian infrastructure by Israel has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis. The widespread destruction of homes, schools, hospitals, and utilities has left countless civilians without access to basic necessities such as food, water, shelter, and healthcare. The siege of northern Gaza, where no food aid was allowed to enter for several weeks in October 2024, has worsened the dire situation. This systematic destruction has contributed to widespread displacement, injury, and starvation, exacerbating the suffering of Gaza’s already vulnerable population.
Palestinian Armed Groups: Indiscriminate Actions
While Israel’s actions have drawn the brunt of international condemnation, the role of Palestinian armed groups, particularly Hamas, cannot be ignored. The UN report notes that Palestinian militants have also contributed to the death toll by launching indiscriminate rocket attacks from densely populated civilian areas in Gaza, which have hit Israeli towns and cities, further escalating the cycle of violence. These tactics violate the laws of armed conflict, which prohibit attacks that target civilians or fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets.
However, the comparison between the actions of the IDF and Palestinian groups is complicated. While Palestinian militants have engaged in indiscriminate attacks, Israel’s use of heavy artillery and airstrikes in densely populated areas exacerbates the civilian death toll, with far greater consequences for the civilian population. The scale of Israel’s military operations and the destructive capacity of its weapons raise the question of whether Israel’s tactics are truly aimed at combatants or whether they reflect a broader policy of collective punishment that disregards civilian life.
The findings of the UN Human Rights Office underscore the urgent need for accountability and a reassessment of military tactics by all parties involved. The disproportionate toll on civilians in Gaza, particularly women and children, highlights the failure of the international community to prevent or mitigate the suffering of innocent people caught in the crossfire of an intractable conflict.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread displacement, injury, and death. International law and human rights protections are meant to safeguard the rights of civilians in times of conflict. Yet, as the UN report suggests, these protections have been routinely violated by both Israel and Palestinian armed groups, leading to a catastrophic loss of life. The international community must take immediate action to address these violations, hold accountable those responsible for war crimes, and prioritize the protection of civilians above all else.
The road to peace and justice in Gaza remains elusive, but without a renewed commitment to upholding international law and safeguarding human rights, the suffering of the civilian population will only continue.
