GAZA — As the conflict in Gaza persists without resolution, the casualties continue to mount, with the death toll exceeding 44,300, which notably includes a disproportionately high number of women and children. Over thirteen thousand children have lost their lives, of which close to 800 were under a year old. This tragic statistic comes amid prolonged and acute violence that has rocked the region.
The war, which erupted on October 7 last year following attacks by Hamas and other armed groups in Southern Israel, has not only claimed the lives of over 1,700 Israelis and foreign nationals but also resulted in more than 100 individuals still being held hostage in Gaza.
Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti, who has dedicated decades to international human rights law and currently serves as a commissioner with the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasizes the severe impact on the civilian population, particularly children. According to Sidoti, the conflict has been traumatic for youth, affecting more children than “any modern warfare has experienced,” with profound losses that include family members and repeated displacements.
Sidoti, in his work, aims to investigate and promote accountability for human rights violations, sharing insights through regular reports to the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, and identifying both war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the conflict. Among the grievous findings his commission noted were the unlawful Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and the ensuing illegal settlements identified as needing immediate cessation by the International Court of Justice.
Furthermore, the situation since October 2023 has prompted Sidoti and his team to focus intensively on incidents of violence such as the attacks on Gaza’s healthcare system. Investigations revealed a systematic destruction of healthcare infrastructure, viewing these attacks as a strategic move against the population’s wellbeing. Sidoti’s commission also documented severe mistreatment and war crimes against Palestinians and Israelis alike, with evidence of torture, sexual violence, and arbitrary detention.
The plight of children in the region has been particularly emphasized, with the extensive loss of life representing a tragic disregard for the most vulnerable. Sidoti remarked on the psychological and physical scars borne by surviving children — scars that extend far beyond the visible tragedies of war.
As discussions around potential resolutions circulate, Sidoti criticizes the lack of political will to pursue peace, referencing the historical context of the 1947 UN General Assembly resolution which proposed coexistence in defined two-state territories. He expressed concern over recent political actions, including a decisive rejection by the Israeli parliament of a two-state solution, which further complicates peace efforts.
With international focus sharpened each November 29 on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, global communities are called upon to reflect on the enduring and escalating human cost of this conflict. It continues to be a test of international resolve in addressing and resolving long-standing issues of justice, human rights, and cohabitation in one of the world’s most persistently troubled regions.
As Sidoti soberly noted, without genuine commitment to follow through on well-established paths to peace, the outlook remains bleak. The conflict, deeply rooted in a century of hostility, continues to claim lives and challenge global conceptions of human rights and conflict resolution.