UNICEF announced that over the past 18 days around 2360 children have been killed due to Israeli unrelenting attacks on Gaza Strip with more than 400 children either killed or injured daily.
The UN organization also revealed that 5364 Gazan children were injured since October 7th describing the 18-day period as the deadliest escalation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip that the UN has witnessed since 2006.
In a statement on Tuesday UNICEF said: “The situation in the Gaza Strip is a growing stain on our collective conscience” and called for “an immediate humanitarian ceasefire” and for “all access crossings into Gaza to be opened for a safe sustained and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid including water food medical supplies and fuel.”
UNICEF highlighted in its statement that almost every child in the Gaza Strip has been exposed to deeply distressing events and trauma marked by widespread destruction relentless attacks displacement and severe shortages of essential necessities such as food water and medicine.
“The killing and maiming of children abduction of children attacks on hospitals and schools and the denial of humanitarian access constitute grave violations of children’s rights” UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khader said.
The statement also pointed to the Israeli killing of children in the West Bank stating that the “West Bank has also witnessed an alarming surge in casualties with nearly a hundred Palestinians reportedly losing their lives including 28 children and at least 160 children reportedly sustaining injuries since October 7 2023.”
