Geneva: The United Nations has raised grave concerns over what it calls an "escalating pattern" of Israeli attacks targeting densely populated civilian areas in Gaza, including hospitals, residential buildings, and tent shelters, amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign.
In its latest situation report, the UN warns that nearly the entirety of Gaza’s territory has either been declared a militarised zone by Israeli forces or subjected to forced evacuation orders, placing more than 2 million residents in an increasingly dire humanitarian crisis.
According to the UN human rights office, approximately 81 percent of Gaza is now inaccessible or unsafe for civilians due to Israeli military designations. This rapid expansion of militarised zones has coincided with the launch of Israel’s latest offensive operation, referred to as the “Gideon’s Chariots” campaign. The UN states that the attacks have not only intensified but also exhibit signs of deliberate and indiscriminate targeting of civilian infrastructure. Entire neighborhoods have reportedly been flattened, with entire blocks wiped out under the weight of heavy aerial and artillery bombardments.
The report further states that the nature of the weapons used—described as having “wide area effects”—suggests a strategic pattern of destruction with little regard for minimizing civilian harm. “The use of weapons with wide area effects suggest deliberate, indiscriminate attack,” the UN human rights office said, raising the alarm over potential violations of international humanitarian law.
Hospitals, in particular, have been under severe strain, not only from the influx of casualties but also from being directly targeted. Medical facilities, which are protected under international law, have repeatedly been hit during Israeli operations, according to the UN. The targeting of these locations has further crippled Gaza’s already devastated healthcare system, pushing it beyond collapse.
The UN’s statements reflect a growing international concern over the scale and nature of Israeli military operations in Gaza. Human rights advocates and several global agencies have called for immediate action to protect civilians and ensure humanitarian corridors remain open. However, the continuation of hostilities and the systematic destruction reported by the UN signal a rapidly deteriorating situation that may have long-term implications for regional stability and international accountability.
