Article:

The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has sparked a devastating toll on children, with a reported 3,542 Palestinian children killed in Gaza, outweighing the number of children killed on the Israeli side. The conflict, which is less than a month old, is causing a higher rate of child casualties compared to most other armed conflicts in recent decades.

The Palestinian Health Ministry, whose credibility has been questioned due to controversial claims, has provided the only comprehensive statistics on civilian casualties in Gaza. President Joe Biden publicly expressed doubts about the accuracy of these statistics, prompting the Health Ministry to release a list containing the details of every individual killed by Israeli airstrikes. However, this list could not be independently verified.

According to the Health Ministry's list, out of every ten individuals killed, four were children. This proportion of child deaths surpasses the rates seen in recent armed conflicts, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The densely populated and flat terrain of Gaza, along with the presence of Hamas operating in urban areas, contribute to the elevated death toll among children.

Israeli warplanes have been relentlessly bombing Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which resulted in the death of an estimated 1,400 Israelis and the taking of more than 200 hostages, including children who were subjected to torture. The intensity of the bombardment, with 6,000 bombs dropped during the first week alone, has raised concerns about the risk to civilian lives.

The impact on children in Gaza is staggering, with Save The Children reporting that the number of children killed in just three weeks surpasses the total number of children killed in all global conflict zones since 2019. This alarming death toll has not been witnessed since the Syrian civil war, where over 27,000 children were killed over a period of more than ten years.

The disproportionate effect on children can also be attributed to Israel's evacuation orders, which have forced the civilian population into smaller, overcrowded areas. Despite following these orders, Palestinians who relocated to the south of Gaza have not been spared from the threat of Israeli airstrikes.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have claimed to adhere to international law and have a process in place to balance military necessity with the protection of civilian life. However, political leaders in Israel have made statements suggesting a no-holds-barred approach to retaliation, which raises concerns about civilian casualties. The IDF's spokesperson did not provide specific measures taken to protect the lives of children when questioned.

The reporting of civilian casualties in Gaza has been a subject of debate, with the UN historically finding the reporting of civil authorities in Gaza to be reliable. However, doubts have been raised about Israel's accurate identification of targets in the midst of ongoing conflict.

As the conflict continues to intensify, international humanitarian organizations and the UN have called for an immediate ceasefire. The death toll, disabling injuries, and the traumatizing impact on surviving children highlight the urgent need to end the violence and protect the well-being and rights of children caught in the crossfire.

The International Criminal Court has also raised concerns about potential war crimes, with Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan stating that impeding aid and starving civilians are both violations of the laws of war. Both Hamas and Israel could face potential prosecution by the ICC for their actions.

The international community is urged to take immediate action and support efforts to put an end to the violence and protect the lives of innocent children caught up in the Israel-Hamas conflict.