At least 26 Palestinians have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip since last Tuesday, the eve of the Islamic holiday of Eid al Adha, according to a denunciation this Friday by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The body has warned of an "aggravation" of the already critical humanitarian situation, despite the ceasefire declared in October.
The report by UN investigators details that the Israeli offensive has caused 922 Palestinian deaths since the announcement of the truce in October, bringing the total death toll to nearly 73,000 since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, according to figures from local authorities. Among the victims registered in this period of cessation of hostilities are at least 32 minors and eight women.
The latest count released this Saturday by the Gaza Ministry of Health confirms these 922 deaths since October, in addition to 2,811 injured in the same period. In total, since the beginning of the conflict, 72,938 deaths and 172,919 injured have been recorded. In the last 48 hours, the Ministry has reported six deaths and 25 injured, not yet including the victims of the most recent attack in the city of Deir al Balá, where a Hamas internal police checkpoint was hit, with one dead and three injured.
The deceased has been identified by the Palestinian agency Sana as Jamal Abu Aoun, head of the anesthesia department at Yafa Hospital.
In parallel, the Human Rights Office has expressed its great concern following the announcement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Thursday ordered the armed forces to expand their deployment to cover 70% of the Strip. The UN has warned that the constant reduction of areas considered safe for the civilian population "severely hinders" both access to humanitarian aid and the possibility of finding refuge.
"Continuing military attacks against a population living under these conditions is unthinkable," said Ajith Sunghay, head of the UN human rights office in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Sunghay stressed that the population of Gaza "survives among ruins and under a blockade that has destroyed practically all essential systems, including health, education, and food production."
For its part, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has indicated that an aerial bombardment recorded on Thursday impacted a residential area near five humanitarian facilities in Deir al-Balah, in the center of the Strip. Although the attack occurred shortly after the Israeli Army issued a shelter order and no deaths or injuries were reported, OCHA has insisted on the urgent need to open more border crossings for the entry of aid and goods, given that the Kerem Shalom crossing continues to be the only one operational.