The investigation in France coincides with mounting global pressure on Israel to enhance aid delivery to Gaza amidst concerns of a humanitarian disaster. Israel’s prolonged bombing and blockade have drastically limited access to food, water, and medical supplies for civilians in the Palestinian area.
The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza reports that over 54,000 people have died due to the conflict. | Haitham Imad/EPA
Israel describes its actions as legitimate self-defense against the militant group Hamas following their terror attack on October 7, 2023. However, international bodies and human rights organizations have accused Israel of war crimes in the resulting conflict.
Certain NGOs and global leaders have accused Israel of genocide, but most major Western democracies, including France, have refrained from doing so. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected genocide allegations as “false and outrageous.”
The exact death toll in Gaza is uncertain. The Hamas-run Ministry of Health reports over 54,000 deaths, without differentiating between militants and civilians. Israel has accused Hamas of exaggerating these figures. Nonetheless, a significant study published in January by The Lancet indicated that the death toll had surpassed 64,000, with most victims being women, children, and the elderly.
Rory O’Neill contributed to this report.
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