The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has raised alarm bells over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as intensified Israeli bombardments and evacuation orders force hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes.

According to OHCHR, the renewed military campaign launched on March 18 has resulted in the deaths of 830 Palestinians and injuries to 1,787 more in just over a week. The systematic destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, coupled with the continued blockade of essential goods, has created what UN officials describe as “a catastrophic reality” for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.

The UN Human Rights Office expressed grave concern over reports of Israeli forces deliberately targeting civilians, including journalists and humanitarian workers. On March 24, Palestinian journalists Mohammed Mansour and Hossam Shabat were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes—Mansour in Khan Yunis alongside his wife, and Shabat when his car was struck.

Further reports indicate that Israeli forces have also targeted civilian officials working in the education sector. Among the victims was Jihad al-Agha, head of the Supervision Department at the East Khan Yunis Education Directorate, who was killed along with his wife and children in an airstrike on March 23. A day later, Manar Abu Khater, Director of Education in East Khan Yunis, was also killed with two of his sons.

OHCHR emphasized that administrative or civilian roles within a government structure do not strip individuals of their protected status under international humanitarian law, making such attacks potential war crimes.

“Targeting civilians, including those working in education and the media, is a blatant violation of international law,” the statement read. “Administrative or political roles within a governing authority do not turn individuals into legitimate military targets.”

Israeli forces have also escalated operations in Rafah, where an estimated 50,000 civilians remain trapped amid heavy shelling and airstrikes.

Reports gathered by UN monitors suggest that Palestinians attempting to flee were shot at by Israeli troops, with some left to die in the streets.

Concerns are also mounting over the fate of 15 ambulance and civil defense workers who have been missing since March 23. OHCHR warned that their continued detention without disclosure of their whereabouts constitutes enforced disappearance, a serious violation of international law.

“Enforced disappearances violate fundamental human rights and must be investigated as potential war crimes,” the UN agency stated.

The UN Human Rights Office reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire and urgent humanitarian access to Gaza, where civilians are now facing extreme deprivation.

“The deliberate obstruction of aid, combined with daily killings and forced displacement, constitutes an attempt to make survival impossible for Palestinians,” it said.

The organization also condemned statements by Israeli officials advocating the mass expulsion of Gaza’s population, warning that these policies—combined with ongoing military actions—amount to genocide under international law. “Calls for the forced transfer of an entire population, coupled with systematic attacks, indicate a clear genocidal intent,” OHCHR said.

The organization further criticized the United States for providing military and financial support to Israel while blocking UN efforts to halt the violence. “Weapons and financial backing must not be used to facilitate war crimes. States providing such support risk complicity in grave international violations,” the statement warned.

With over 200,000 Palestinians displaced in just one week, OHCHR has urged world governments to take immediate steps to prevent further atrocities, including ensuring the delivery of humanitarian aid and protecting civilians from forced displacement.

“The international community cannot remain silent. Concrete action must be taken to halt these violations and hold perpetrators accountable,” the UN statement concluded.