Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, identified the persistent lack of accountability for Israel as a key driver fueling continued attacks in Gaza despite the ceasefire. Speaking on the human rights situation and violations in the besieged Gaza Strip amid ongoing Israeli hostilities since October 2023, she emphasized that impunity perpetuates the cycle of violence.
Shamdasani described the humanitarian conditions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank as having reached catastrophic levels. She reported that more than 70 thousand Palestinians have been killed by occupation fire and missiles since October 2023. Additionally, over 1400 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire announcement last October. The spokesperson characterized the situation as extremely dire, noting observations of people dying from starvation and witnessing war crimes and potential crimes against humanity being committed.
Regarding the West Bank, Shamdasani highlighted the seizure of increasing amounts of land, daily killings of Palestinians, and mistreatment of Palestinian detainees in detention centers. She stated that every violation observed has been met with a chronic lack of accountability, which feeds the conflict. She pointed out a long-standing absence of accountability for Israeli violations in Palestine even before October 2023, confirming that the situation has worsened significantly since then.
The UN spokesperson attributed the deepening crisis to the prevention of humanitarian aid entry and rising starvation cases, alongside escalating land seizures and violations in the West Bank. She stressed the necessity for all member states to halt the supply of arms, diplomatic support, and financial assistance that contribute to igniting the war, asserting that this constitutes an international legal obligation for every country.
