Results for: Civilian Casualties

The United Nations human rights office has expressed grave concerns over the conduct of the Israeli military operation in Gaza, warning that it could amount to war crimes. According to the UN, the raid was carried out in a densely populated area, putting civilian lives at risk. The UN also criticized armed groups for holding hostages in such areas. The office’s spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, emphasized the importance of respecting the principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution under international law.

The Israeli military carried out an airstrike on a UN school in central Gaza on Thursday, killing at least 33 people, including 14 children and nine women. The military claimed that the school housed a “Hamas compound” and that several Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were using it as a staging ground to launch attacks on Israeli soldiers. The UNRWA school was filled with Palestinians who had fled Israeli offensives and bombardment in northern Gaza.

After intense scrutiny, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims responsibility for targeted strikes in Rafah, eliminating senior Hamas terrorists. However, IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari acknowledges that an unforeseen chain of events led to a devastating fire within a crowded tent camp, resulting in civilian casualties. The investigation focuses on potential factors such as stored weapons in the vicinity and the impact of Hamas’ ammunition warehouse explosion. Despite international outcry and concerns about a possible ground incursion, US officials maintain their opposition to such an operation. Residents of Rafah report Israeli tank incursions, prompting confrontations with Hamas and Islamic Jihad forces.

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has taken a deadly turn with Israeli airstrikes on a refugee camp in Rafah, killing over 45 people, including children. The attacks have sparked global outrage and condemnation on social media, with an AI-generated image of “All Eyes on Rafah” going viral. Despite multiple attempts at mediation by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, peace talks between Israel and Hamas remain at a standstill.

Tensions between Israel and Hamas flared up on Sunday, resulting in a series of Israeli airstrikes on Rafah in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip. The strikes, which targeted Hamas militants, left at least 35 people dead and numerous others injured, including women and children. The Israeli military justified the strikes as based on precise intelligence and claimed the killing of two senior Hamas officials. The strikes came amid heightened tensions following the International Court of Justice’s order for Israel to cease its operations to protect civilians.

Anti-government protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) turned deadly on Monday after Pakistani Rangers, a paramilitary force, opened fire on demonstrators protesting rising prices, killing at least three civilians and injuring several others. The incident occurred despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of immediate financial relief for the region.

Renowned lyricist and novelist Paulo Coelho shared a harrowing image from war-torn Gaza on Mother’s Day 2024, depicting a mother embracing her deceased child’s body. The post, accompanied by the hashtag #MothersDayinGaza, brought attention to the alarming number of civilian casualties, primarily women and children, resulting from the ongoing conflict. Despite diplomatic condemnations, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israel’s bombings continuing and the death toll exceeding 35,000.

The Israeli military is deploying two reserve brigades for missions in the Gaza Strip, including potential operations in Rafah, Hamas’ last major stronghold. The move comes as Israel prepares for a ground invasion of Rafah, raising concerns over civilian casualties as more than half of Gaza’s population seeks shelter in the city. The brigades have been studying lessons from the ongoing fighting in Gaza and will engage in defensive and tactical missions. The deployment is part of Israel’s war aim of destroying Hamas’ military capabilities, while the conflict has also led to increased violence in the West Bank, including the fatal shooting of a Palestinian woman by Israeli soldiers at the Okfim junction.

Russian forces launched an air strike on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa in the early hours of Tuesday, injuring four children and causing damage to residential and commercial properties. The attack, which involved the use of drones, partially destroyed at least one house. Emergency services assisted in rescuing residents from burning and damaged buildings.

An Israeli attack on the Gaza city of Rafah killed a pregnant Palestinian woman and her family. Her baby girl was delivered via emergency C-section and is in stable condition. The attack also killed 13 children from another family. The Israeli military claims to have struck militant targets, but the victims were mostly civilians.