More than 420 children killed every day in Gaza: UNICEF
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting at the request of the United Arab Emirates. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations(UN) Children's Fund (UNICEF), stated that children are the most affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting at the request of the United Arab Emirates. Catherine Russell,Executive Director of the United Nations(UN) Children's Fund (UNICEF), stated that children are the most affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"More than 420 children are killed or injured every day in Gaza," Russell emphasized.
The United Nations (UN) Security Council held an emergency meeting on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), said the destruction in Gaza is unprecedented and the human tragedy is unbearable. Reminding that Israeli authorities had warned half of Gaza's population to evacuate the south, Lazzarini said that despite this, many Palestinians seeking shelter were killed.
"I have said it many times and I will say it again, nowhere in Gaza is safe," Lazzarini said, adding that more than 670 thousands forcibly displaced Palestinians are staying in overcrowded conditions in UNRWA schools and basements.
70 PERCENT OF THOSE KILLED WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Noting that almost 70 percent of the civilians reported killed were children and women, Lazzarini said that approximately 3,200 children were killed in Gaza in three weeks. The toll exceeds the number of children killed annually in conflict zones around the world since 2019, Lazzarini said, adding that the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza has forced thousands of desperate people to flock to aid distribution centers.
'MORE THAN 420 CHILDREN KILLED EVERY DAY'
Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), underlined that children are the most affected by the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"More than 420 children are killed or injured every day in Gaza. This number should deeply shock each and every one of us," Russell said, reminding us that 34 health facilities in Gaza, including 21 hospitals, have been attacked and 12 of the 35 hospitals are no longer operational. "We are doing our best to reach all children in need, but it is now extremely difficult to deliver humanitarian aid, especially in Gaza," said Russell, noting that children in both Israel and Palestine are suffering a terrible trauma that could last a lifetime.
EMPHASIS ON DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, noted that the death toll in Gaza is rising by the hour and recalled that only 94 aid trucks have entered the territory.
"Despite the clear worldwide reaction, West Jerusalem has begun to implement its plan to cleanse the territory in practice," Nebenzia said, stressing that humanitarian aid cannot be delivered to the region at a time of escalating fighting on the ground.
The priority is to stop the bloodshed and move the conflict to the diplomatic arena in order to realize the two-state solution endorsed by the UN, Nebenzia said, asking why some Council members do not support a ceasefire.
'GAZA IS HELL ON EARTH'
Palestine's Permanent Observer to the UN, Riyad Mansour, described Gaza as "hell on earth" because of what is happening in the region.
"Saving humanity from hell today means the UN saving the Palestinians in Gaza," Mansour said, emphasizing that the UN's call for 100 trucks of humanitarian aid per day should be heeded.
Mansour called on the representatives of member states to make the two-state solution a reality and end the occupation.
WHAT HAPPENED
Hamas' military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced that they launched a comprehensive attack against Israel called "Al-Aqsa Flood" on the morning of October 7.
While thousands of rockets were fired from Gaza towards Israel, armed groups entered the settlements in the region. The Israeli army also launched an attack on the Gaza Strip with dozens of warplanes.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that Israel killed over 8 thousand people, including 3 thousand 342 children, 2 thousand women, and 397 elderly people, and injured 20 thousand 242 people in its attacks on Gaza.
It was reported that 1400 Israelis, including 306 soldiers, were killed and 5 thousand 132 Israelis were wounded in the attacks from Gaza.
The Israeli army hit Damascus and Aleppo airports. As the Middle East is once again turning into a bloodbath, a deadline has been set for nearly 2 and a half million Palestinians to leave the blockaded Gaza.
In the occupied West Bank, 106 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and Jewish settlers.
In Israel's attacks on Gaza, 35 journalists were killed.
In the clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the Israel-Lebanon border since October 8, 46 Hezbollah members and 4 civilians, one of whom was a journalist, were killed. Three Israeli soldiers and one Israeli civilian were killed in the attacks organized by Lebanon.
Most recently, Israel attacked the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza, killing civilians.
Source: Ihlas News Agency
