In a distressing update from the Gaza Strip, a report by the United Nations reveals that one child is killed every 10 minutes due to the relentless Israeli offensive, now in its 198th consecutive day. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), this alarming frequency underscores the dire necessity for an immediate ceasefire, seen as the last remaining hope for the region.
UNRWA’s communication via the social media platform X highlighted the catastrophic impact of these relentless assaults, describing the attacks as both “intense and indiscriminate.” Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, recently reported that the number of children killed in Gaza since 7 October now exceeds the total number of children fatalities in global conflicts over the past four years.
These grim statistics reflect the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, which requires urgent international intervention to cease the Israeli aggression and ensure the protection and safety of Palestinian children, consistent with international humanitarian and human rights laws.
Since 7 October, the Israeli occupation army has conducted a devastating assault on Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of casualties and significant destruction, further exacerbating a severe health and environmental crisis. Vital infrastructure, including supplies of electricity, water, fuel, and food, has been systematically targeted and destroyed, compounding the severe hardship faced by Gaza’s civilian population.
This ongoing Israeli aggression not only constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law but also inflicts profound suffering on civilians. This situation demands immediate and resolute international action to halt the aggression and safeguard civilian lives in the sector.