BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 10. UN human rights experts have condemned what they described as a “catastrophic human rights situation” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, warning of a sharp increase in attacks against Palestinian civilians.
In a statement, the experts said violence against Palestinians intensified in July, describing the situation as a further deterioration of an already severe humanitarian crisis.
They said the expansion of the “Yellow Line” and the demolition of buildings amounted to an attempt to reshape the geography of Gaza through force and displacement, adding that “nowhere in Gaza is safe”.
The experts said Israeli military operations in July resulted in the deaths of at least 160 Palestinians, bringing the reported number of people killed since the October ceasefire to more than 1,200.
They also raised concerns over developments in the occupied West Bank, where they said at least 14 Palestinians were killed in July and condemned an increase in settler violence.
The experts referred to incidents in the village of Tal on July 24, where four Palestinians were killed, and alleged that settler violence occurs with the protection or participation of Israeli forces.
Citing the 2024 International Court of Justice ruling regarding Israel’s occupation, the UN experts said Israel had continued policies they consider unlawful and warned that states supporting such actions could also face questions under international law.
