Children killed in Gaza during a tenuous ceasefire, UN and Gaza health ministry say

The Hindu
The Hindu
3h ago
UNICEF said more than 100 children have been killed in Gaza during a tenuous ceasefire, while Gaza’s health ministry reported 165 children killed and 442 total fatalities during the same period.
Children killed in Gaza during a tenuous ceasefire, UN and Gaza health ministry say
A What happened
The United Nations said at least 100 children have been killed in Gaza by Israeli airstrikes and ground forces since the start of a tenuous ceasefire three months ago. UNICEF said at least 60 boys and 40 girls had been killed in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory since early October, and UNICEF spokesman James Elder said the true number was likely higher. A Gaza health ministry official reported 165 children killed during the ceasefire, out of 442 total fatalities, and said seven children died from exposure to cold since the beginning of the year. UN data said nearly 80% of buildings in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, and Israel suspended 37 international aid agencies from accessing the Gaza Strip on January 1.
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Key insights

  • 1

    UNICEF said the ceasefire has not stopped child deaths: James Elder said a ceasefire that slows bombs is progress but not enough if children continue to be killed and buried.

  • 2

    UNICEF linked aid restrictions to reduced life-saving assistance: James Elder said banning key NGOs from delivering humanitarian aid blocks life-saving assistance and said aid entering Gaza still does not meet the need.

  • 3

    UNICEF questioned whether access limits restrict scrutiny: James Elder said that when key NGOs are banned from delivering aid and bearing witness and foreign journalists are barred, it raises the question of whether the aim is restricting scrutiny of children’s suffering.

Takeaways

UNICEF and Gaza’s health ministry reported that children continued to die in Gaza during a ceasefire, alongside ongoing damage and restrictions on humanitarian access.

Topics

World & Politics International Affairs Conflicts Human Rights

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