Children in Gaza Strip... 3,257 Deaths in 3 Weeks

Annual Death Toll Surpasses 20 Conflict Zones
Over 1,000 Missing Children
Save the Children: "People Come Before Politics"

Since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas in Palestine, the number of children who have died in just three weeks has surpassed the annual number of children killed in conflict zones worldwide since 2019.

On the 29th (local time), the international child rights NGO Save the Children cited data from Israeli and Palestinian authorities, reporting that at least 3,257 children have died so far in the war between Israel and Hamas that began on the 7th.

Palestinian children and residents evacuating barefoot to escape airstrikes
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Among them, 3,195 children have lost their lives in the Gaza Strip alone, which Save the Children explained is more than the number of children who died annually in conflict zones across more than 20 countries worldwide over the past three years. According to the United Nations (UN) annual report on "Children and Armed Conflict," 2,985 children died in 24 conflict-affected countries last year, 2,515 in 2021, and 2,674 children died in 22 countries in 2020.

Save the Children expressed concern that the number of child casualties in the Gaza Strip could increase further. Approximately 1,000 children are missing, presumed to be trapped under collapsed buildings in Gaza, and 6,360 children have been injured. Due to Israel’s blockade cutting off supplies of fuel and medicine, one-third of hospitals in Gaza have ceased operations. Save the Children added that the risk of death for injured children is now higher than ever.

Children are also being victimized outside the Gaza Strip. In the West Bank, where the Palestinian Authority governs, 33 children have died and 180 have been injured. In Israel, 29 children have died and 74 are listed as injured. Save the Children pointed out that more than one-third of all fatalities across Israel and Palestine are children, with the proportion of child victims in Gaza exceeding 40%. Save the Children called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that if the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) expand ground operations, more child casualties will occur. They also emphasized that the parties involved in the conflict must take immediate measures to protect children’s lives, and the international community has an obligation to support these efforts.

Jason Lee, head of Save the Children Palestine, stated, "Three weeks of violence have destroyed children’s lives at an unimaginable speed," and appealed, "A ceasefire is the only way to guarantee the safety of children." He also criticized, "The international community must prioritize people over politics; merely engaging in debates is no different from leaving children to perish."

As civilian and child casualties continue to rise in the Gaza Strip, tragic reports have emerged that parents are writing their children’s names on their arms and legs to identify them in case they die. Even children who survive airstrikes are reported to be suffering from severe trauma symptoms.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.