Trending 
The United Nations on Friday criticised continued violence against Palestinians in Gaza, saying civilians are still being killed despite the fragile ceasefire in place since October.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk said the security situation in the territory remains dangerous, with repeated attacks affecting civilians across different locations.
He said the ongoing pattern of deaths reflects what he described as a lack of accountability for violations against Palestinian lives.
“The unrelenting pattern of killings reflects continuing disregard for Palestinian lives, enabled by sweeping impunity,” said Turk.
According to figures he cited from Gaza’s health authorities, at least 32 people have been killed since the beginning of April.
He added that in the past 10 days, Palestinians have been killed or injured in homes, displacement shelters, tents, public roads, vehicles, a medical facility and a classroom.
“For the past 10 days, Palestinians are still being killed and injured in what is left of their homes, shelters and tents of displaced families, on the streets, in vehicles, at a medical facility and a classroom.”
Türk also referenced recent deaths involving a World Health Organization contractor and an Al Jazeera journalist, warning that humanitarian workers and reporters are increasingly at risk.
He said the killing of aid workers and journalists has made both emergency response and reporting extremely dangerous in the territory.
He further noted that even basic movement has become hazardous, with civilians reportedly shot while walking, driving or standing in open areas.
“The number of journalists and humanitarian personnel killed in Gaza is unprecedented, and further compounds civilian harm as it makes reporting on the situation and responding to its humanitarian implications life-threatening.
“Movement itself has become a life-threatening activity. Incidents of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces while walking, driving, or standing outside are recorded nearly every day.”
The UN official said the situation has been worsened by restrictions on humanitarian aid, destruction of infrastructure, and violence involving armed groups operating in the area.
He argued that civilians are effectively left without safe options regardless of where they go, questioning how this aligns with the idea of a ceasefire.
Türk said more than 700 Palestinians have been killed and over 2,000 injured since the ceasefire began, based on local health data.
He called for stronger international action, saying statements alone are no longer sufficient and accountability is urgently needed.
“Palestinians have no blueprint for survival: whatever they do or don’t do, wherever they go or don’t go, there is no safety or protection afforded to them. It is hard to square this with a ceasefire.
“After two-and-a-half years of repeated crimes under international law, committed with sweeping impunity, and tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians killed, the international community must move beyond words.
“It must undertake meaningful actions to end Israel’s ongoing violations of international law, ensure accountability for crimes committed by all parties, and guarantee that Palestinians are able to start the recovery and rebuilding of their homes and community.”
The conflict began in 2023 after Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,221 people according to Israeli figures compiled by AFP.
Gaza health authorities say Israel’s military response has since killed more than 72,000 people, figures the United Nations considers credible.
