OHCHR condemned this week’s attacks as heinous and said they reflected a broader pattern of increased violence against Palestinians.
Several people were reportedly injured in the attacks, which included a raid on a dairy factory, while delivery trucks and homes were set on fire.
The rise in violence comes as Israeli authorities have also intensified house demolitions in addition to property seizures and the forced displacement and transfer of thousands of Palestinians by Israeli settlers and the army, continued OHCHR, during a briefing for UN journalists in Geneva.
The officials reiterated that Israel’s assertion of sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and its annexation of parts of it constitute a violation of international law, which was confirmed by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Floods in Gaza
Meanwhile, in Gaza, hundreds of tents and makeshift shelters were flooded due to heavy rains on Friday.
“We fear that thousands of displaced families will find themselves fully exposed to these harsh weather conditions” amid broader health and protection concerns, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at a later news briefing in New York.
UN partners are working to provide shelter support through rapid response teams.
Around 1,000 tents were distributed to families in Deir al Balah and Khan Younis on Thursday. Between Sunday and Wednesday, partners provided around 7,000 blankets to more than 1,800 households, as well as some 15,000 tarpaulins to more than 3,700 households and winter clothing.
Humanitarian partners stress that proper flood prevention requires equipment that is not available in Gaza, including tools to drain water from tents and to remove solid waste and rubble.
Aid articles “blocked in Jordan”
“Millions of urgently needed shelter items remain stranded in Jordan, Egypt and Israel, awaiting clearance to enter Gaza,” Dujarric continued.
“The dire living conditions also increase people’s exposure to explosive ordnance, with children among the most exposed. Some people have been injured while collecting firewood; others have to pitch tents near areas suspected of containing unexploded remains simply because they have no safer options.”
The spokesperson stressed the need for full and sustained opening of existing and additional crossing points, clearance of aid and essential equipment for entry, and access to all aid items from the UN and its partners.
