Relentless attacks on infrastructure and cold weather in Gaza are making the Palestinian enclave “completely uninhabitable”, the United Nations human rights office warned on Friday.
“I fear that many more civilians will die,” said Ajith Sunghay, head of the United Nations Office for Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
“Continued attacks on highly protected facilities such as hospitals will kill civilians, and there will be an even greater and massive impact on Palestinians’ access to healthcare, safety and security in general.”
According to Gaza health authorities, the Israeli offensive has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians, while thousands more are believed to be under rubble and most of the 2.3 million residents are displaced, facing acute shortages of food, water and medicines.
Israel launched its offensive following the October 7 attack by Hamas militants, which killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.
Sunghay said his office is also concerned about the impact of rain and cold in Gaza.
“This was entirely predictable at this time of year and risks making an already unhealthy situation completely uninhabitable for the population,” he said.
“Most do not have warm clothes or blankets. Northern Gaza, where shelling by the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) continues, is difficult to access even to provide basic humanitarian aid.”
Sunghay said it would be “disastrous” if the shelling or street-to-street fighting underway in Khan Younis moved further south to Rafah, where around 1.3 million people are now gathered in the Egyptian border city in attempt to escape the attack. Israeli attack.
Source: Terra
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