GAZA: In the aftermath of Israel’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, a staggering toll is being exacted on Palestinian children, with the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor revealing that around half a million of them are grappling with the profound consequences.
This distressing estimate encompasses children who have faced injuries, fatalities, or the traumatic experience of witnessing the destruction of their family homes due to Israel’s intense air and artillery assaults on the region.
According to the Geneva-based human rights organization, a heart-wrenching 6,100 children are either reported missing or have tragically lost their lives under the rubble of buildings demolished in the attacks. The chances of survival for those missing or buried diminish with each passing day, adding an agonizing layer of despair to an already dire situation.
Moreover, over 15,500 children have suffered injuries, with dozens of them in critical condition. The magnitude of the crisis is further highlighted by the fact that many children have undergone limb amputations, while hundreds grapple with severe burns inflicted during the conflict. UNICEF, the United Nations agency dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to children globally, has urgently called for the protection of hospitals and children in Gaza amid deeply concerning reports emerging from the largest hospital in the strip.
Expressing alarm over the unfolding humanitarian crisis, UNICEF emphasized the critical need for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Al Shifa hospital, a crucial medical facility in Gaza, is reportedly without power, leading to distressing reports of premature babies losing their lives in incubators. The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported shelling near Al-Shifa Hospital, emphasizing that such attacks not only compromise medical facilities but also endanger the lives of patients and displaced individuals seeking shelter.
Tragically, the conflict has taken a heavy toll on Gaza’s civilian population. The death toll, as of the latest update from Palestine’s government media office, stands at a devastating 11,100, with approximately 8,000 of those casualties being women and children. An additional 28,000 people have been wounded since the initiation of the war on October 7.
The roots of the conflict lie in the intensifying crimes committed by the occupying regime, prompting a response from Hamas, the Palestinian resistance movement, through Operation Al-Aqsa Storm. The situation remains highly volatile, with the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza demanding urgent attention and international intervention to alleviate the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.
