An international non-government organization, Save the Children, has recently reported that over 10,000 children have lost their lives as a result of nearly 100 days of war in Gaza. This amounts to almost one percent of the total child population in Gaza, which is approximately 1.1 million. The organization has condemned the violence, stating that for every day that passes without a definitive ceasefire, an average of 100 children have been killed. Jason Lee, the country director for occupied Palestinian territory, emphasized that there can never be any justification for killing children, calling the situation in Gaza "monstrous" and "a blight on our common humanity."

israel destroyed the future of thousands of children including killing over 10000 children in Gaza 😢 pic.twitter.com/8EK0VGz1bG

— Mariam from Gaza 🇵🇸 (@KufiyyaPS) January 11, 2024

The report also revealed that, since the war began, a total of 23,469 Palestinians have been killed, with women and children accounting for about 70 percent of these casualties. Most of these deaths were caused by Israeli air strikes and shelling, which have been continuously targeting the densely populated enclave. The increasing death toll has drawn international attention, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling on Israel to limit civilian casualties during his recent visit to the region. Blinken acknowledged the difficulties of fighting against an enemy who hides among civilians but stressed that the daily toll on civilians, especially on children in Gaza, was far too high.

The United States has also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with reports of more than 1,000 children losing one or both legs and facing a life of inadequate medical care. Save the Children has called for a definitive ceasefire to protect the lives of children in Gaza and has urged the Government of Israel to allow the unfettered flow of aid and the resumption of entry of commercial goods into Gaza to prevent children from dying of starvation and disease.

At the same time, Israel claims that its military campaign is directed at eliminating Hamas and ensuring the security of its citizens, dismissing allegations of genocide as false and baseless. The ongoing conflict has resulted in the destruction of schools, hospitals, and homes, leading to severe distress among children, with many suffering life-changing injuries and being forced to flee violence with no safe place to go. Save the Children has highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance to prevent further suffering and loss of life among the children of Gaza.