World
February 21, 2025 23:00
gaza - Over 18,000 Palestinian children have lost their lives in the ongoing genocide in Gaza by Israel, leaving 38,495 children orphaned.
Israeli Genocide in Gaza
For over 15 months, Israel's attacks have resulted in the death of approximately 18,000 Palestinian children. Since the attacks began on October 7, 2023, 38,495 children in Gaza have been left orphaned. The Gaza Government Press Office reported that 214 babies were killed immediately after birth, and 808 babies under the age of one died in the attacks.
Israeli forces raided the Al Nasr Children's Hospital in western Gaza on November 10, 2023, leading to the deaths of 5 premature babies as they refused to evacuate them. The bodies of the babies were found in their incubators and hospital beds after Israel's withdrawal from Nasr neighborhood.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNWRA) Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini warned of a 'disability epidemic' in Gaza, with thousands of amputations, including children losing limbs without anesthesia. The Gaza Government Press Office reported that 4,500 people, 18% of them children, underwent amputations due to the crisis.
Another statement from the Office warned that 3,500 children are at risk of death due to severe malnutrition and food shortages. Despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the crisis continues as humanitarian aid blockade by Israel impedes food access, resulting in the deaths of dozens of children.
38,495 Palestinian children have been orphaned due to Israel's genocide in Gaza, forcing many children to work and take on responsibilities to provide for their families.
School-age children in Gaza have been deprived of education for over 15 months due to the ongoing genocide. The Ministry of Education in Gaza reported that Israel had killed more than 15,000 school-age children aged 6-18, with over 50,000 students injured, many suffering permanent disabilities such as amputations, paralysis, head trauma, and sensory loss.
Tom Fletcher, UN Deputy Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the urgent need for mental health and psychosocial support for children in Gaza, stating that 1 million children require assistance for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts due to the trauma they have experienced.