For the past three weeks, the residents of Gaza have been ardently searching for safe havens and medical facilities amidst the unrelenting and intense Israeli bombardment of the densely populated and besieged territory.
Today, a senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed at a press conference that the organization has received estimates indicating the presence of approximately 1000 unidentified bodies still trapped under the rubble in Gaza, which are yet to be registered in the official death toll.
Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territories, responded to an inquiry about the death toll in Gaza stating, “We have also received these estimates suggesting that there are still more than 1000 individuals under the rubble who have not been identified.” However, he did not specify the source of this information, as reported by the Arab World News Agency.
War Crimes and Humanitarian Concerns:
Ravina Shamdasani, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed her deep concerns regarding the potential commission of war crimes in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. She stated, “We are worried that war crimes might be being committed… We are also concerned about the collective punishment of the people of Gaza in response to the brutal attacks by Hamas, which in turn also amount to war crimes.”
This statement came shortly after Philippe Lazzarini, the Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), had earlier warned that many in the Gaza Strip would perish due to the harsh Israeli blockade.
Since October 7th, Israel has imposed a severe blockade on Gaza, preventing the entry of water, goods, and fuel, cutting off electricity and drinking water, in retaliation to a surprise attack by Hamas on settlements and military bases around the Gaza Strip.
This has led to intensified violent raids on the overcrowded territory, home to more than two million Palestinians, resulting in the death of over 7,000 Palestinians, half of whom are children and women, while more than 10,000 have been injured.
Despite these grim circumstances, only 84 trucks of aid have entered through the Rafah Crossing, which separates the Egyptian border and the Gaza Strip, while the residents there consume what is equivalent to 100 trucks of supplies in a single day.
The escalating crisis in Gaza is a testament to the dire need for urgent international intervention and support. The world’s eyes are on this unfolding tragedy, hoping for a swift resolution and the restoration of humanity and dignity to the people of Gaza.
