The events of October 7 have unleashed a wave of violence and accusations, fueling calls for an international inquiry into the conflict between Israel and Palestine. According to a statement from Palestinian representatives, the date marked the beginning of a deadly escalation that has resulted in significant loss of life, with claims of atrocities committed by both sides.
Palestinian officials are urging the United Nations to establish an international investigation committee to probe the events of October 7 and the aftermath. They have expressed their full cooperation with any such inquiry, demanding accountability for war crimes committed before, during, and after that date. “Many facts are still unknown, and false accusations continue to spread,” the statement read, pointing fingers at what they describe as biased coverage by Western media outlets.
The call for investigation comes against the backdrop of decades of unrest, with Palestinians marking the long history of conflict since the 1917 Balfour Declaration, the 1947 UN Partition Plan, and the 1948 Nakba. The latest round of violence, according to Palestinian sources, has seen devastating consequences on the civilian population.
The numbers, if confirmed, are staggering. The Palestinian side reports that in the past 369 days, 16,927 children have been killed, and another 17,000 have been orphaned. Among women, 11,487 have reportedly lost their lives, with tens of thousands more in critical condition due to limited access to healthcare. The conflict has also ravaged infrastructure in Gaza, destroying roads, educational institutions, and leaving 96% of the population facing severe malnutrition, particularly pregnant women and children.
Education has been severely impacted as well. Over 10,000 school students and more than 1,000 university students, teachers, and staff have lost their lives, and 625,000 students have been denied access to schooling. Meanwhile, the West Bank faces its own toll, with reports of thousands of Palestinians detained, including children and women, and claims of severe torture and neglect in detention centers.
The Palestinian government also highlighted the destruction of places of worship and heritage sites, with 814 mosques and several churches and cemeteries reportedly destroyed. Media outlets have not been spared either, with 174 journalists killed and 87 media offices obliterated, according to Palestinian sources.
The Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs further alleges that Israeli forces have abducted and detained nearly 1,500 unidentified bodies, including children, since October 7. Many of these bodies, they claim, are being held in refrigerated containers.
In a chilling incident last week, an Israeli airstrike on a café in the Tulkarm refugee camp reportedly killed 18 people. Palestinian officials assert that American warplanes and air-to-ground missiles were involved in the attack, further exacerbating tensions in the region.
As the conflict continues, the Palestinian ambassador, Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, has emphasized the need for a thorough and impartial investigation, calling on the international community to intervene and hold accountable those responsible for the mounting casualties and destruction.
Amid escalating violence and deepening humanitarian crises, the demand for answers—and justice—grows louder. The international community now faces increasing pressure to address the ongoing conflict and establish the truth behind the tragic events of October 7.