UNICEF says child casualties in Gaza 'stain on our collective conscience'

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) called on Tuesday for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, saying that deaths and injuries of children are "a growing stain on our collective conscience".

In a statement, UNICEF highlighted that over the last 18 days, the Gaza Strip has "witnessed heavy losses among its children, with 2,360 children reportedly killed and 5,364 others injured due to the ongoing attacks, or an average of more than 400 children either killed or injured every day".

In addition, "more than 30 Israeli children lost their lives, and dozens are still in captivity inside the Gaza Strip".

The statement stressed that almost every child in the Gaza Strip has been exposed to "extremely painful events and traumas, characterised by widespread destruction, continuous attacks, displacement, and severe shortages of basic necessities such as food, water, and medicine".

"UNICEF urgently appeals to all parties to agree to a ceasefire, allow humanitarian aid to arrive, and release all hostages. Even wars have laws. Civilians - especially children - must be protected and every effort must be made to save them in all circumstances," asserted Adele Khader, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

The UNICEF statement also noted that the West Bank also witnessed an alarming rise in the number of casualties, with reports stating that "about 100 Palestinians lost their lives, including 28 children, and at least 160 children were injured. Even before the tragic events that occurred on October 7 "children in the West Bank were already experiencing the highest levels of conflict-related violence in two decades, resulting in the loss of 41 Palestinian children and the lives of six Israeli children so far this year".

"The rate of deaths and injuries among children is shocking, and what is even more frightening is the fact that unless tension is eased and humanitarian aid, including food, water and supplies, is not allowed... Medical and fuel, the daily death toll will continue to rise,” according to the statement.