On Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that Israel’s intensive bombardment with high-impact explosives in Gaza needs to be investigated.
Gaza officials said Israel launched airstrikes on or near at least three hospitals on Friday, further endangering a health system swamped with thousands of casualties and people displaced by Israel’s war against Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
Gaza Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra told Al Jazeera television, “The Israeli occupation launched simultaneous strikes on a number of hospitals during the past hours.”
Qidra said Israel targeted the courtyard of Al Shifa, the biggest hospital in Gaza City, and there were casualties, but he did not provide details. Israel said Hamas has hidden command centers and tunnels beneath Al Shifa, allegations Hamas denies.
Israel’s military did not immediately comment on Qidra’s statement, which Reuters could not independently verify.
Volker Turk also told reporters in the Jordanian capital of Amman that Israel must take immediate measures to protect Palestinians in the West Bank as they find themselves targeted by more violence since the conflict with Hamas erupted last month.
“I also appeal, as a matter of urgency, for Israeli authorities to take immediate measures, to take steps to ensure the protection of Palestinians in the West Bank, who are being on a daily basis subjected to violence from Israeli forces and settlers, ill treatment, arrests, evictions, intimidation and humiliation,” Turk said.
Volker Turk said at least 176 Palestinians, including 43 children and one woman, had been killed in incidents involving Israeli security forces since the beginning of October. At least eight Palestinians had been killed by Israeli settlers.
Before Oct. 7, it was already the deadliest year on record for Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, with about 200 killed.
The worsening violence in the West Bank has fueled concerns that the Palestinian territory could become a third front in a wider war, in addition to Israel’s northern border where clashes with Lebanese Hezbollah forces have taken place.
“It is Israel’s duty to ensure that all incidents of violence are promptly and effectively investigated, and that victims are provided with effective remedies,” Turk said.
“Continued widespread impunity for such violations is unacceptable, dangerous, and it is in clear violation of Israel’s obligation under international human rights law.”
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and said it has also been conducting counter-terrorism operations against militants from the group and other Palestinian armed factions in the West Bank.
Over the past 18 months, Israeli troops have killed hundreds of Palestinians and made thousands of arrests across the West Bank.
The devastating Gaza conflict has claimed over 12,300 lives on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, according to data released by health authorities on both sides on Thursday.
The Gaza Strip’s health department on Thursday revealed a staggering death toll of 10,812 people since the outbreak of the current round of the conflict starting on Oct 7.
In addition, the West Bank has reported that Israel killed 173 Palestinians.
