Human Rights Office: No Safe Place in Gaza

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights affirmed that there is no safe place for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, nine months after the announcement of a ceasefire in the Strip.

The Office explained that Israeli occupation forces have intensified their attacks on various areas of the Gaza Strip in recent days, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Palestinians, noting that the attacks targeted residential buildings, at least one tent sheltering displaced persons, as well as densely populated areas.

The Office's spokesperson, Thameen Al-Kheetan, told reporters in Geneva that the Human Rights Office has so far verified the killing of 685 Palestinians from October 2025 to mid-April 2026, including 283 women and children, most of whom died in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip.

He pointed out that the verification process by the Office is ongoing, amid continued reports of more civilian casualties.

The Human Rights Office reported that it recorded at least 57 Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces' fire from July 13 to 20, including six children and eight women.

It added that 34 of these victims were killed in areas far from the so-called 'Yellow Line' imposed by the occupation authorities inside the Gaza Strip.

The Office warned that the killing of civilians in these attacks raises serious concerns about ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and the possible commission of war crimes and other grave crimes in the Gaza Strip, stressing that intentionally targeting civilians constitutes a war crime under international law.

It noted that Palestinians in Gaza remain trapped in a constantly shrinking area, as the occupation authorities continue to move the 'Yellow Line' westward, posing a constant threat to the lives of the population.

The Office pointed out that occupation forces frequently open fire on Palestinians merely for being near that line, in violation of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Al-Kheetan said that the violations, suffering, and harsh humanitarian conditions still imposed on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip cannot be ignored.

The toll of victims of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 73,293 martyrs and 173,906 wounded.

Israeli occupation forces continue to violate the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip by conducting artillery shelling, airstrikes, and intensive gunfire on several areas of the Strip.