The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that more than 5,300 Palestinian minors had died in the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year, as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas intensified, and called for a “halt”. sustained fire” and called on “all parties” to ensure “children are protected”.
“Before the (humanitarian) pause, more than 5,300 Palestinian children were reported dead in 48 days of incessant shelling, a figure that does not include many children who are still missing and presumed buried under the rubble,” the Unicef director said , Catherine Russell, in a statement published on the organization’s website in the last few hours.
In this context, he warned that if the conflict “returns to its previous scale and intensity, hundreds more children can be expected to be killed and injured every day.”
“In the midst of this terrible nightmare, there was a glimmer of hope for children for seven days. More than 30 children held hostage in Gaza have been freed, safe and reunited with their families,” Russell added of the humanitarian pause
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was extended from November 24 to December 1, marking a pause in fighting that began on October 7 following the Palestinian Islamist movement’s surprise attack on Israeli territory.
“The humanitarian pause enabled an increase in the delivery of vital supplies to and through Gaza. UNICEF and our partners were able to significantly expand their operations and programs. And we were able to start connecting separated children with their families,” Russell assessed.
“This was not enough to meet the scale of humanitarian needs, but it was a start. We need better safe and predictable access now to reach injured, displaced and traumatized children. And we have to care for the children who are exposed to the cold, wet weather,” he explained.
Russell stressed that “children need a lasting humanitarian ceasefire” and called on “all parties” to ensure “children are protected and supported.”
This escalation of hostilities began on October 7, when Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack that killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 240, including twenty Argentines.
In response, Israel vowed to eliminate Hamas and launched a campaign of air and ground strikes on Gaza that killed more than 15,000 people, most of them civilians, according to the enclave’s government.
The week-long temporary cessation of hostilities allowed the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners: 110 hostages were released since the beginning of the conflict, 105 of them during the ceasefire, mostly Israeli women and minors, and a dozen of them Argentine exchange Israel He released 240 people.