UNICEF's recent report indicates that at least 322 children have been killed and 609 wounded since Israel intensified its operations in Gaza. The organization raises alarms about the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by ongoing violence, attrition of essential supplies, and the cessation of aid.
UNICEF Reports Alarming Child Casualties Amid Renewed Conflict in Gaza
UNICEF Reports Alarming Child Casualties Amid Renewed Conflict in Gaza
In a grim update, UNICEF reveals that over 322 children have died and hundreds more wounded during Israel's renewed offensive in Gaza, highlighting the urgent humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF, has reported devastating casualties among children amid the renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza, stating that at least 322 minors have lost their lives, with 609 others reportedly injured since the onslaught began two weeks ago. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the tragic reemergence of violence and deprivation, stating, “The ceasefire in Gaza provided a desperately needed lifeline for Gaza's children and hope for a path to recovery."
Israel initiated this latest offensive on March 18, attributing the violence to Hamas's purported rejection of a new U.S. ceasefire proposal aimed at securing the freedom of 59 hostages held captive in Gaza. Conversely, Hamas has accused Israel of breaching the original agreement reached in January. UNICEF indicated that "relentless and indiscriminate bombardments" have resumed, resulting in the death or injury of approximately 100 children daily during the ten days leading up to March 31. Many of these children are reported to have been displaced, taking refuge in makeshift shelters or already damaged homes, according to the agency.
UNICEF relies on casualty figures provided by Gaza’s Hamas-led health ministry—statistics that Israel consistently disputes. While such numbers have been regarded as reliable by the UN and various international organizations, independent verification remains impossible; international journalists, including those from the BBC, face barriers preventing access to Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assured the public via the BBC of its commitment to minimizing civilian injuries during operations, asserting adherence to international legal protocols, including the laws of armed conflict. The IDF claimed to take extensive measures to assess and prevent civilian collateral damage in military strikes.
Having endured over 18 months of warfare, UNICEF reports that roughly 15,000 children have died, over 34,000 have sustained injuries, and nearly a million have been displaced within Gaza. The humanitarian condition in the region has drastically deteriorated in recent weeks, aggravated by Israel's blockage of aid since March 2—the longest such blockade since hostilities began. UNICEF has warned that the lack of essential supplies could lead to rampant malnutrition, disease, and an increase in preventable children’s fatalities.
The UN announced on March 24 that it would be scaling back its operations in Gaza following the tragic deaths of eight Palestinian medical personnel, six Civil Defense staff, and a UN employee at the hands of Israeli forces. The IDF's latest military campaign is aimed at dismantling Hamas—a group that is classified as a terrorist organization by Israel, the UK, the US, and other nations—in response to an unprecedented assault on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties and numerous hostages taken.
According to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, the toll in Gaza has reached over 50,399 individuals since the commencement of these intense confrontations.
