The discovery of mass graves in the Gaza Strip, containing bodies showing signs of torture, execution, and even being buried alive during the Israeli military offensive, has caused outrage among UN Human Rights experts. They have condemned the actions taken by Israel and called for an immediate halt to hostilities.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with 1.7 million internally displaced people and 1.1 million facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to violence and abuse in this conflict, with almost half of the 34,000 Palestinians killed being minors and a third being women. Additionally, 75 percent of the 78,000 injured are women, and over half of the 8,000 missing individuals are women and children.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are also suffering due to the destruction of crucial health facilities by Israeli forces. Conditions are so severe that 300 percent more spontaneous abortions have occurred, and 95 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women are facing serious food poverty. Additionally, about 690,000 women and girls lack privacy and dignity in managing their menstrual cycles.
The experts criticize Israel for not conducting an independent investigation into accusations of sexual assault and violence against women and girls. They call on Israel to cease hostilities immediately and for all States to halt arms exports to prevent further harm to innocent civilians, particularly women and children. They urge the international community to take action to address the human rights violations occurring in Gaza.
In conclusion, the situation in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis that requires urgent attention from the international community. The Israeli military offensive has resulted in widespread violence against civilians, particularly women and children. The UN Human Rights experts have condemned these actions and called for an immediate halt to hostilities
