UN Human Rights Chief Concerned Israel's Attack On Gaza Killed More Than 100 People

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. (Twitter/@volker_turk)

JAKARTA - Volker T\"urk, a top Commissioner of the United Nations (UN) for Human Rights, said on Wednesday that reports showing more than 100 Palestinians, mostly children and women, were killed overnight by Israeli airstrikes targeting primarily housing buildings, refugee tents and schools across the Gaza Strip, were horrific.

He stressed that the law of war is very clear about the importance of protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure, and that Israel must comply with its international obligations under international humanitarian law and be responsible for any violations.

"It's sad that this killing comes at a time when the Gazan people, who have suffered so long, are starting to feel a glimmer of hope that endless violence may end," T\"urk said, launching WAFA Oct. 29.

Turk stressed that all parties must act in good faith to implement a ceasefire, urging countries, especially those with special influences, to make every effort to ensure compliance.

"The last two years have brought intolerable suffering and misery, as well as almost total destruction in Gaza. We must not allow this opportunity for peace and a path to a fairer and safer future to be missed," he said.

As previously reported, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday night, saying it was acting after an attack by Palestinian militants killed a soldier, in the latest challenge to a fragile ceasefire.

Israel claims to target commanders to tunnel facilities of the Hamas group, when its attack on the Gaza Strip killed 104 Palestinians, including children and women.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said its attack on the Gaza Strip was a response to the terror group's violation of the ceasefire.

Among those confirmed to have died in the attack were several who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack, according to the IDF, according to The Times of Israel.

The military said its attacks targeted dozens of militant group members, including two battalion-level commanders, two battalion deputy commanders, and 16 company commanders in Hamas and other militant groups.

The attack also targeted observation posts, weapons production sites, rocket launch sites, and tunnels, according to the IDF.

The military said it could not confirm whether the Hamas commander who was targeted to be killed in the attack.

However, the IDF said several militants who were said to have infiltrated Israel on October 7 were killed in the attack on the last day.

Meanwhile, Gaza's Ministry of Health said 46 children and 20 women were among 104 people killed in Israeli airstrikes since Tuesday, quoted by Reuters.

Medical sources in Gaza on Wednesday confirmed that Palestinian deaths from Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 have reached 68,643 people, the majority of children and women.

The medical source added that the number of injured victims had increased to 170,655 since the start of the attack, while a number of victims were still trapped under the rubble and could not be reached by ambulance and rescue teams.

Meanwhile, the total number of victims killed and injured since the ceasefire agreement on October 11 had reached 211, 597 others injured and 482 bodies have been evacuated.