Gaza Violence Persists Despite Fragile Ceasefire

UN partner BLDA distributes tents to Gaza families after the ceasefire began on 10 October. The enclave remains in the grip of a catastrophic humanitarian emergency..

In Gaza, as airstrikes, shelling, and gunfire continue to kill and injure Palestinians, UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Wednesday rejected Israeli military claims that the so-called “Yellow Line” of concrete blocks erected inside the enclave represents a new border.

“The Security Council resolution is very clear about not calling anything a border or anything else; it is about a territory that needs to be respected in its entirety,” he said, referring to a resolution adopted on 17 November in support of a comprehensive plan to end the conflict.

“We call on all parties to respect the ceasefire and to ensure that we can indeed move to the next phase of the peace plan,” the High Commissioner told journalists in Geneva. Gaza “remains a place of unimaginable suffering, loss, and fear. While the bloodshed has reduced, it has not stopped,” he stressed.

Resolution 2803 (2025) received 13 votes in favour and none against, with China and Russia abstaining.
The text welcomed the Comprehensive Plan announced by President Trump on 29 September, the first phase of which led to the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel days later.

Shifting ‘Yellow Line’

Much of the recent violence has occurred near the “Yellow Line,” where large painted concrete blocks have shifted in the past week, triggering “new waves” of displacement, according to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA.

In a scheduled update, the agency cited data from Gaza health authorities showing that 360 Palestinians have been killed and 922 injured since the fragile ceasefire came into effect in late October. An additional 617 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble during this period.

Echoing those concerns, Mr Türk said his Office had documented more than 350 attacks since the ceasefire began. The dead included seven women and 13 children.

“Attacks by Israel continue, including on individuals approaching the so-called Yellow Line, residential buildings, and IDP tents and shelters, as well as other civilian objects,” he said.

Beyond the humanitarian crisis, the High Commissioner highlighted the widespread psychological trauma across Gaza, describing it as “the most serious mental health crisis that one can imagine… Basically everyone is traumatised, especially children.”

Meanwhile, marking Human Rights Day, Mr Türk also voiced alarm over “unprecedented levels of attack by Israeli forces and settlers against Palestinians” and their land in the occupied West Bank. “This is a time to intensify pressure and advocacy – not to sink into complacency,” he insisted.

A world of trouble

Turning to the long-running emergency in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the High Commissioner expressed grave concern over reports of thousands fleeing the South Kivu city of Uvira amid clashes between M23 rebels and DRC armed forces backed by Wazalendo militia.

“This comes just days after the DRC and Rwanda reaffirmed their commitment to implement the June 2025 Washington Peace Agreement,” he said, warning that the risk of a broader regional confrontation is rising.

He also issued a stark warning that war crimes and potentially crimes against humanity may be occurring in Sudan, where conflict continues unabated. The fighting began in April 2023 after a breakdown in the transition to civilian rule. Recently, the Rapid Support Forces overran the city of El Fasher after an 18-month siege, prompting widespread reports of grave rights abuses.

“From Darfur and the Kordofans to Khartoum and Omdurman and beyond, no Sudanese civilian has been left untouched by the cruel and senseless violence,” Mr Türk said. “We are talking about thousands of people killed… summary executions… people shot while trying to flee… and witness reports of rape and gang rape, including in front of family members. These are very serious atrocity crimes—war crimes for sure, and potentially crimes against humanity.”

Ukraine appeal

In Ukraine, the High Commissioner noted a sharp rise in civilian harm. Civilian casualties so far this year are 24 per cent higher than during the same period last year, largely due to Russia’s increased use of powerful long-range weapons and its continued attempts “to capture further Ukrainian territory by armed force”.

Urgent action is needed, he said, “including the return of transferred children [allegedly taken to Russia], the exchange of all prisoners of war, and the unconditional release of civilian detainees held by Russian authorities”.

War on drugs

Responding to questions about deadly US military strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean, Mr Türk reiterated that such actions violate international law and human rights law and require “prompt, independent investigations”.

Reports indicate that more than 80 people have been killed in over 20 attacks since September. On 2 September, two survivors of an initial strike were allegedly killed in a second attack.

As US lawmakers continue to press for information about the operations, Mr Türk said: “I hope this leads to a prompt, serious, and independent investigation so that we can get to the bottom of what has happened.”