Iran (IMNA) - This staggering statistic highlights the severe impact of the violence on vulnerable populations, with approximately 80% of these fatalities attributed to Israeli attacks on residential areas. Children aged five to nine represent the most affected demographic, underscoring the tragic consequences of the conflict on young lives.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has verified 8,119 deaths out of over 34,500 reported fatalities during the initial six months of hostilities. Among these victims, 44% were children, primarily in the age groups of five to nine, followed by those aged ten to fourteen and under four years old. Since October 7, 2023, Gaza's Ministry of Health has reported at least 43,603 Palestinian deaths and 102,561 injuries.
Recent Israeli strikes have continued to claim lives; on Sunday alone, 30 people, including 13 children, were killed in attacks on two homes in northern Gaza. In light of these developments, a human rights organization has called for international and UN bodies to declare a famine in northern Gaza due to Israel's blockade preventing aid entry for over 50 days. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor asserts that starvation is being used as a weapon in what it describes as ongoing genocide, alongside mass killings and forced displacements.
Conditions in northern Gaza have been described as “catastrophic” by a senior official from UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), who cited relentless assaults and severe shortages exacerbated by restricted access to aid. Sam Rose, UNRWA's senior deputy director for Gaza affairs, emphasized the dire situation faced by civilians in areas like Jabalia and Beit Lahiya, noting that ongoing fighting has severely hampered efforts to assess needs and deliver assistance.
UNRWA has suspended its services due to the escalating violence, and efforts by civil defense teams to recover bodies or rescue survivors have been obstructed. Established in 1949 to assist Palestinians displaced during the Nakba, UNRWA provides essential services such as education, healthcare, and emergency relief across the region. However, recent legislation passed by Israel’s parliament seeks to prohibit UNRWA's operations in occupied territories.
Your Comment