At least 15,000 children killed in Gaza since October 7 attacks in 2023
A Save the Children official tells Al Jazeera that at least 15,000 children have been killed in the Gaza war by Israeli attacks, adding that:
- There are 1.9 million people displaced from their homes in Gaza.
- Indiscriminate attacks are being carried out on civilians and health workers.
- There is no safe place for children, civilians or health workers in the Gaza Strip.
- The international community should urge parties to the conflict to provide protection for children.
- Governments must be pressured to urge parties to the conflict to protect children.
- The UN Security Council has a responsibility to ensure the protection of children and civilians in Gaza.
- Save the Children has more than 50 trucks loaded with aid but cannot deliver it due to the Israeli blockade.
‘Appallingly little’ outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza: Former UN official
Former UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths tells Al Jazeera that “it’s a startling reality that world powers have not stood up to their responsibilities under the law as well as their conscience” when it comes to Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza.
“France, Jordan, Indonesia and some other governments are mobilising a process”, but this ultimately gets “stuck in the [UN] Security Council”, he said.
“Whatever outrage there is, and there is appallingly little, hasn’t led to action, and I think this terrible stain on our conscience,” he said.
“It’s not just Israel which is doing these deplorable and illegal things, but it’s also states responsible for the international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, to speak out because they should and because they’re legally obligated to do so.”
‘We have to speak up’ against US support for Israel’s war on Gaza
Firas El Echi, a journalist and host of the Here’s Why podcast, tells Al Jazeera that the US likes to position itself as the leader of the free world but its actions in Gaza suggest otherwise.
He said the fact that the US Congress is passing laws that allow 900kg (2,000lb) bombs to be sent to Israel and for the US to provide Israel with AI assistance to target civilians shows that it is not living up to the democratic principles it preaches to the rest of the world.
“I did not think that in 2025 we could sit by and watch the crimes, but at least for our part as journalists, we have to speak up. Students have to speak up. Everyone around the world has to speak up,” he said.
Voicing criticism of US support for Israel’s actions will show “future generations that, yes, this happened, but we were there to say no”.
