Seven children were killed in Lebanon under Israeli airstrikes on Thursday and Friday, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The UNICEF regional branch in the Middle East and North Africa stated on X that reports indicate the killing of 7 children in Lebanon as a result of 3 (Israeli) airstrikes on Thursday and Friday, adding that these children had dreams and hopes suddenly cut short due to the ongoing violence in Lebanon.
The UN organisation stressed the need to protect children, and called for an “immediate ceasefire.
Since September 23, 2024, the Israeli occupation has expanded the scope of the genocide it has been committing in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to include most areas of Lebanon, including the capital Beirut, in an unprecedented violent and intense airstrikes. It also started a ground invasion in the south, in violation of international laws, warnings, and UN resolutions.
Until Friday evening, the death toll has reached 1,411 killing and 3,979 injuries, most of whom are women and children, and the displacement of more than 1,340,000.
Attacks targeting civilian gatherings constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, as international laws, including the Geneva Conventions, prohibit attacks on civilians and civilian facilities, and consider any direct targeting of civilians a war crime.
Targetting children exacerbates the seriousness of this crime as children are one of the most vulnerable groups and must be given special protection, for which comprehensive and transparent investigations into these attacks must be conducted to ensure accountability, provide support to victims and their families, and emphasise respect for human rights at all times.
