Women and children make up a majority of those killed in Gaza, the UN's human rights agency OHCHR states in a report based on the over 8,100 deaths during the war's first six months that the UN has been able to verify.
"The report shows how civilians in Gaza have been hardest hit by the attacks, even during the initial 'total siege' of Gaza by Israeli forces," OHCHR writes in a statement.
White Phosphorus
The report highlights a number of Israeli violations of international law. According to OHCHR, several of these can meet the definition of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly even genocide.
Israel has also used white phosphorus on at least 24 occasions in attacks during the war, according to the report.
White phosphorus is extremely flammable and must not be used as a weapon in areas with civilians, according to the laws of war, as it can cause extremely horrific injuries that can lead to a slow and painful death.
Corresponds
Around 80 percent of the UN-verified deaths occurred during Israeli attacks on residential buildings. Nearly 90 percent of them died in attacks with five or more fatalities.
"The actions of the Israeli forces have caused unprecedented levels of killing, injury, starvation, and disease," OHCHR writes.
The authorities in Hamas-ruled Gaza have long claimed that women and children make up a majority of those killed, but the figures have continuously been questioned by Israel. The UN report's figures largely correspond to those of the Gaza authorities, says OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani now.
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