UN Agencies Express Deep Concern Over Reports of Abuse Against Returning Palestinians at Rafah Crossing Amid Escalating Israeli Attacks

United Nations humanitarian agencies have expressed deep concern over reports of mistreatment of Palestinians returning through the Rafah border crossing. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly complex due to Israeli attacks targeting civilians.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), airstrikes and shelling continue in areas where civilians reside in Gaza, causing significant humanitarian casualties and extensive damage to physical infrastructure.

The office stated on Thursday that the Israeli military destroyed the last remaining school under the group of schools established for refugees. With this, all schools in that area have been completely destroyed.

The United Nations has made it clear that civilians and civilian structures must always be protected and should never be used or targeted for military activities.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported on Thursday that 21 returnees were transported to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis via an Israeli checkpoint. A total of 98 returnees have been welcomed there since Monday.

The UN Human Rights Office warned of observed instances of abuse, humiliation, and violence against returning Palestinians. According to the office, some armed Palestinian groups, with the support of the Israeli military, have been handcuffing, blindfolding, threatening, body-searching, and robbing returnees of money and personal belongings.

The Human Rights Office stated that reports were received of violence, humiliating interrogations, and searches that violated physical integrity at Israeli checkpoints during the return process.

The office concluded that all these activities constitute a serious violation of the Palestinians' rights to personal security, human dignity, and freedom from torture and inhuman treatment.

According to OCHA, coordination with Israeli authorities is still required to deliver humanitarian aid inside Gaza. Of the 11 proposed humanitarian missions for coordination on Thursday and Friday, only 6 were fully completed. Some of the remaining missions were only partially successful after being delayed for a long time.

These missions included collecting water and sanitation materials, supplying fuel, medical evacuations, movement through the Rafah crossing, and transporting the sick to Nasser Hospital.

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