GENEVA / Muhammad Iqbal Arslan / Anadolu

** Chairman of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Srinivasan Moraledhar:

- Every 700 people share one toilet, with no privacy, and this is a horrific experience

- Jordan, Egypt, and neighboring countries are all ready to receive patients, but Israel does not allow it

- What is happening in Gaza is a continuous, systematic, and planned genocide

- No child should starve to death in wartime, but this is what is happening today in Palestine

Comparing life in the Gaza Strip to "hell," the Chairman of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Srinivasan Moraledhar, said Israel wants to eliminate the continuity of Palestinians and systematically kills children.

This came in an interview by Anadolu with Moraledhar, about the situation in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli genocide war against Palestinians continues in various forms, where he described the humanitarian situation in the Strip as "extremely dangerous."

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories had presented its latest report on June 23 last year during the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council.

The report confirmed that Israel continues to commit genocide and other serious crimes through the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children.

It indicated that Palestinian children were arrested in Israeli prisons and detention centers, subjected to torture and other cruel treatment, without disclosing their whereabouts.

** A toilet for 700 people

Commenting on this, Moraledhar said: "Gaza has witnessed massive destruction of infrastructure. No electricity, no sanitation services, and many families are subjected to forced displacement, while a large number have been forced to flee to the southern part of the Strip."

Regarding displacement camps, Moraledhar said they "lack the most basic healthy living conditions, the situation is extremely bad, children are specifically targeted, no one in Gaza is safe, and (Israeli) drones target children in particular."

He revealed that "every 700 people share one toilet, with no privacy, and this is a horrific experience. Many are waiting for evacuation to receive urgent medical treatment. Despite (Israeli) claims of allowing evacuations through the Rafah crossing, we all know that this is happening very slowly and on a limited scale."

He added that "large numbers of adults have also lost their lives, while health workers, medical facilities, orphanages, and schools have been repeatedly attacked."

Regarding Palestinian journalists, Moraledhar said they "are also being targeted, life in Gaza is like hell."

He explained that Jordan, Egypt, and neighboring countries are all ready to receive patients, but Israel does not allow the required number of medical evacuations and deliberately obstructs the entry of humanitarian aid.

Moraledhar added that the commission sends a copy of its reports to both the Palestinian Authority and Israel through their permanent missions to the United Nations, but Tel Aviv "has never responded to any of these reports."

In addition, he said "Israel prevents us from entering the occupied Palestinian territories, so our efforts remain limited in results."

On June 11, the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip said Israel obstructs the travel of 17,000 sick and injured patients who have medical referrals for treatment abroad, warning of an increase in deaths among waiting patients.

** No ceasefire

In response to a question about whether there is a real ceasefire in Gaza, Moraledhar said: "Certainly not. We made that clear in our report covering events up to March 2026, and to this day, (Israeli) airstrikes continue, and children are targeted."

According to the latest data from the Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip, Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement, as of Thursday, have resulted in the killing of 1,127 Palestinians and the injury of 3,643 others.

Moraledhar added that the commission published a detailed report in September 2025 containing all the evidence that led it to believe that genocide is being committed in Gaza.

He explained that the latest report included statements by Israeli lawmakers and politicians who considered that "every child in Gaza is an enemy, and every child born in Palestine is a terrorist and must be eliminated," warning of the seriousness of these statements.

He said: "We explained in the report how children are systematically targeted. In one case, an infant is killed while the adult carrying him survives."

He added that the report also documents the killing of children who were carrying white flags, collecting firewood, or running behind aid trucks.

Regarding Tel Aviv's pretexts, Moraledhar stressed that "no matter how much Israel tries to convince the world that Hamas uses children as human shields, the examples we documented involve children engaged in normal daily activities."

He pointed to "a clear intention aimed at eliminating the continuity of Palestinians as a human group."

He also warned that "what is happening in Gaza is a continuous, systematic, and planned genocide."

He noted that the commission gave briefings this year to the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and even the UN Security Council, and said that many diplomats representing various countries expressed deep dismay, expressing hope that this would translate into practical steps.

** The international position

Regarding the international community's stance, Moraledhar said the general mood has begun to change, adding: "Many ambassadors have informed us that public opinion in their countries no longer accepts the idea that sympathy for Palestinians means anti-Semitism, and when it comes to children, no one believes that logic anymore."

The UN official said the commission revealed in its latest report the names of brigades, units, and battalions in the Israeli army "involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide," noting that countries can initiate legal proceedings against individuals present on their territory.

He continued: "No child should starve to death in wartime, but this is what is happening today in Palestine. No child should die due to lack of medical care or aid, and this is also happening today."

And "if states are unable to agree on these basic principles and to convince Israel to allow the entry of humanitarian aid, then we must reconsider our faith in the international legal system," according to Moraledhar, who said: "It is time to act, and it is no longer acceptable to stand idly by."

Despite the agreement being in effect, living conditions in the Strip have not seen tangible improvement due to Israel's renunciation of its commitments stipulated in the agreement, including opening crossings and bringing in agreed quantities of food, relief, medical aid, and construction materials.

Israel continues to violate the agreement through shelling, killing, and destruction, leaving more than 73,000 dead, over 173,000 injured, and massive destruction affecting 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.