GENEVA

The UN human rights office and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday condemned the continued targeting of Palestinians seeking food and medicine in Gaza, following an Israeli strike Thursday that killed at least 15 people, including children, outside a clinic in Deir al-Balah.

The attack occurred in front of a facility run by Project Hope, a UNICEF partner.

Ravina Shamdasani, the UN human rights spokesperson, told a UN briefing in Geneva: "We’ve raised concerns about atrocity crimes having been committed and the risk of further atrocity crimes being committed, where people are lining up for essential supplies such as food and medicine and where they are being attacked, where again… they have a choice between being shot or being fed."

"This is unacceptable and it's continuing," she added.

The Israeli military claimed that it was targeting a Hamas member involved in the Oct. 7 attacks with the attack; however, Shamdasani questioned "the rationale of putting civilians, including children, in mortal danger," and reiterated concerns about violations of humanitarian law.

"We have seen that of the overall death toll in Gaza, a large proportion are women and children. And again, that raises serious questions about whether these principles are being respected," she said.

Since Israel-backed food distribution points run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations in late May, OHCHR has recorded 798 killings, including 615 near GHF sites and 183 along aid convoy routes – "mostly due to… gunshot injuries."

WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier joined the condemnation, saying: "People being shot at distribution sites… this is far beyond unacceptable."

"Peace is the best medicine and opening the doors remains the only viable option," he said.