According to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, around 40 Palestinian children have been killed so far this year in the occupied territories. In many of these cases, Israeli forces appear to have used fatal force violating international human rights law.
On Thursday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published a statement expressing “concern” at the overwhelming number of Palestinians murdered and injured by Israeli troops in occupied Palestinian territory this year, particularly youngsters.
“The killing and maiming of so many children this year is inexcusable,” said Bachelet.
According to the statement, 19 Palestinian children were slain in occupied Palestinian land in the last week alone, increasing the total number of children killed since the beginning of the year to 37.
Israeli operations in the occupied West Bank resulted in the deaths of an additional two children on Tuesday, bringing the total number of children killed by Israeli troops to 19.
Israeli forces bombarded Gaza, destroying structures, and attacking refugee camps across the area, claiming to be targeting members of the Islamic Jihad armed group, including senior commanders. According to Palestinian authorities, the bulk of those murdered were civilians.
The number of civilians killed in the Israeli assault on Gaza was “considerable,” according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
International humanitarian law is unambiguous. It is banned to launch an attack that may be expected to accidentally kill or harm civilians or damage civilian property in a way disproportionate to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Such attacks must cease, urged Bachelet.
