UNICEF Demands Protection for Children in Gaza
In a devastating two-day assault on Jabalia Camp, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) expressed deep concern over the Israeli occupation forces’ attack. The UN organization stated, “We do not have precise figures for the losses caused by the attack on children in the camp, but homes have been leveled to the ground, resulting in hundreds of child casualties.”
According to a United Nations report, the attacks on the camp occurred on Tuesday and Wednesday, following 25 days of continuous shelling. Reports indicate that the ongoing shelling prior to the camp’s attack resulted in the deaths of over 3,500 children and the injury of more than 6,800 children.
UNICEF highlighted that these reports imply the killing or injuring of more than 400 children daily for a consecutive 25-day period. The organization also emphasized that refugee camps, internally displaced settlements, and the civilians residing within them are protected under international humanitarian law.
The UN agency dedicated to children’s welfare stated that such large-scale attacks on densely populated residential areas by Israeli occupation forces could have entirely unacceptable and indiscriminate effects. It emphasized that children have already borne too much and stressed the urgent need to halt the killing and detention of children, with a strong call for children not to be targeted in attacks.
UNICEF reiterated its urgent appeal to all parties in the conflict to immediately cease firing for humanitarian purposes, ensure the protection of all children, and facilitate safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to deliver life-saving assistance widely across the Gaza Strip, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
