UN Condemns Collective Punishment of Palestinians, Calls for Investigation into Aid-Related Deaths

The level of suffering and brutality in Gaza is unbearable, said Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East Khaled Khiari, addressing the Security Council. Since mid-June, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed, many while seeking aid. The total number of Palestinian fatalities since 7 October 2023 has surpassed 56,500, according to Gazan health authorities. Mr. Khiari condemned the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for opening fire near food distribution points, resulting in multiple incidents of civilians killed and injured while trying to access aid.

Key Takeaways:

• The total number of Palestinian fatalities since 7 October 2023 has surpassed 56,500, citing figures from the Gazan health authorities.
• At least 50 people were killed and 200 injured in Khan Younis on 17 June when an IDF tank opened fire on a crowd waiting for UN World Food Programme aid trucks.
• IDF troops reportedly opened fire near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, killing 49 Palestinians and injuring 197 others, once again on 24 June.
• Mr. Khiari called for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.
• The UN will not participate in any aid delivery modality that does not comply with fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence, and neutrality.
• The UN condemned Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups for their attacks in Israel, which killed over 1,200 people and led to more than 250 being taken hostage.
• Fifty hostages, including one woman, remain in captivity.
• The escalating violence in the occupied West Bank is alarming, with 15-year-old boy and an elderly woman killed in separate incidents on 25 June, and several Palestinians killed during attacks in Surif and Kafr Malik.
• Iran-Israel ceasefire agreement announced by President Donald Trump on 24 June has brought hope to the region, however, Mr. Khiari stressed that this ceasefire needs to be replicated in the other conflicts in the region.

Statistics:

• 56,500: Total number of Palestinian fatalities since 7 October 2023, according to Gazan health authorities.
• 1,000: Number of Palestinians killed since mid-June, many of them while seeking aid.
• 1,200: Number of people killed in Israel due to Hamas attacks.
• 250: Number of hostages being held in Israel.
• 24: Number of June when the Iran-Israel ceasefire agreement was announced.

Sources:

• UN Security Council Briefing
• WFP (World Food Programme) website: http://www1.wfp.org/
• US President Donald Trump's announcement on the Iran-Israel ceasefire agreement