The United Nations reported on November 8, 2024, that women and children accounted for nearly 70% of the deaths in the Gaza Strip between November 2023 and April 2024. This finding comes from a detailed verification of a partial victim count amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union and other nations.
The report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) outlines numerous violations of international law, many of which could amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, or even genocide. The High Commissioner verified 8,119 of over 34,500 recorded deaths during the first six months of the war, concluding that nearly 70% were women and children.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the High Commissioner, indicated that this figure is representative of the total death toll, aligning with estimates from Gaza's authorities, governed by Hamas. The number and nature of casualties in Gaza have been contentious since the onset of the war, which began after Hamas launched attacks on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023.
The UN and numerous countries regard the daily casualty figures provided by the Gaza Health Ministry as reliable, although Israel disputes this claim. According to the High Commissioner, the high proportion of women and children among the casualties signifies a systematic violation of fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction and proportionality. Among the verified deaths, 3,588 were children and 2,036 were women.
High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, condemned the unprecedented level of civilian deaths and injuries as a direct consequence of the failure to adhere to basic humanitarian principles. He noted that these documented violations have persisted unabated more than a year into the conflict.
The report indicates that approximately 80% of all verified deaths occurred during attacks on residential buildings, with nearly 90% of casualties resulting from incidents that killed five or more individuals. The significant number of verified deaths in residential areas may partly be attributed to the High Commissioner's verification methodology, which requires at least three independent sources.
Israel maintains that its operations in Gaza target Hamas combatants. However, the report emphasizes that the verified deaths largely reflect the demographic makeup of the general population of Gaza rather than that of combatants. The Israeli military asserts its commitment to international legal obligations and efforts to minimize harm to non-combatants, particularly women and children, before conducting attacks.
Israel vowed to dismantle Hamas following an attack on October 7 that resulted in 1,206 deaths, predominantly civilians, as reported by AFP based on official Israeli data, including hostages who died in captivity. The Israeli offensive in Gaza has reportedly resulted in at least 43,508 deaths, mostly among civilians, according to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry.