2014, a devastating year for Palestinians.

(Baonghean) - While negotiations between Israel and Palestine continue to stall, the United Nations has just revealed an alarming figure regarding the number of Palestinians killed in clashes between the two countries during the summer of 2014.

By the end of 2014, Palestinians were still unable to return to their homes. Photo: AFP/Adel Hana

On Thursday, March 26th, the United Nations released a report assessing casualties from Israel's "Operation Protective Edge" in the Gaza Strip during the summer of 2014. According to the report, the number of Palestinian civilians killed in fighting has never been as high as it was during the Six-Day War in June 1967.

The annual report of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OCHA) states that “More than 1,500 civilians were killed, 11,000 injured, and 100,000 displaced.” By the end of 2014, Palestinians were still unable to return to their homes. OCHA reported that a total of 2,200 Palestinians, including soldiers, were killed in the conflicts of the summer of 2014. Notably, 550 of those killed were children. On the Israeli side, 73 people were killed, including 67 soldiers. It is understood that the figures provided by OCHA are based on information from non-governmental organizations and sources from Israel and Palestine.

According to the report, in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, 58 Palestinians were killed and 6,028 were injured, while 12 Israelis were killed. The report assesses this as the highest number in recent years. Furthermore, the number of Palestinians detained for “security reasons” increased by 24%, equivalent to 5,258 prisoners, compared to last year's average.

In parts of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, 1,215 Palestinians were evicted from their homes by Israeli authorities. This is the highest number since Israel began similar operations in 2008. The report also condemned the Israeli government's continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as contrary to international law. According to OCHA, "There are approximately 4 million Palestinians in total in the West Bank and Gaza Strip who remain under Israeli military occupation."

Meanwhile, non-governmental organizations, including Amnesty International (AI), have accused the Hamas Islamic movement of continuing to control Gaza. AI demanded that "Palestinian armed groups cease attacks on civilians and indiscriminate assaults." According to AI, Palestinian armed groups also committed war crimes by firing mortars and rockets indiscriminately at Israel. Previously, Palestinians announced they would bring Israeli leaders before the International Criminal Court on April 1st on charges of "war crimes" and continued occupation of Palestinian land.

Chu Thanh
According to Le Monde, March 26