Rights Commission: 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 Commission explained that the Israeli occupation forces have intensified their attacks in recent days on various areas of the Gaza Strip, 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 Commission'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 conducted by the office is still ongoing, as reports continue to come in of more civilian casualties.

The Human Rights Office reported that from July 13 to 20 this month, at least 57 Palestinians were killed by Israeli occupation forces' fire, 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 continued violations of international humanitarian law and the possible commission of war crimes and other grave crimes in the Gaza Strip, stressing that deliberately targeting civilians constitutes a war crime under international law.

It stated that Palestinians in Gaza remain besieged within a constantly shrinking area, as the occupation authorities continue to move the 'yellow line' westward, posing a constant threat to the lives of residents.

The office noted that occupation forces repeatedly open fire on Palestinians simply 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 death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 73,293 martyrs and 173,906 wounded.

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