In brief
The humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply, with alarming rates of injury and displacement among the youngest victims of the conflict.
The United Nations children's agency, Unicef, has reported that at least 322 children have died since Israel intensified its military offensive in Gaza two weeks ago. The organization also indicated that over 609 additional children were reportedly injured during this period. Unicef's Executive Director, Catherine Russell, stressed that the ceasefire previously provided crucial relief for children in Gaza but expressed concern that violence had resumed, plunging children back into "a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation."Israel commenced its renewed offensive in Gaza on March 18, citing Hamas's refusal to accept a fresh U.S. proposal to extend a ceasefire and release 59 hostages. Conversely, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the agreed terms from a ceasefire deal struck in January. Unicef observed that "relentless and indiscriminate bombardments" have reemerged, with the tragic statistic revealing that approximately 100 children were killed or harmed daily during the 10-day period leading to March 31. Many of these children were already displaced and found shelter in temporary tents or damaged residences.While Unicef relies on figures provided by Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which the Israeli government disputes, these statistics are generally regarded as reliable by international bodies. Due to restrictions, international journalists, including those from the BBC, have been prevented from independently verifying these numbers.The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) assured the BBC of its commitment to minimizing civilian harm during military operations, stating they strive to comply with all international legal obligations. They emphasized efforts to assess potential civilian casualties in their strikes.Since the onset of the ongoing conflict over 18 months ago, Unicef reports that about 15,000 children have been killed, with over 34,000 injured, and nearly a million more displaced due to the violence. The humanitarian crisis has intensified lately, exacerbated by Israel's decision to halt aid into Gaza since March 2, marking the longest aid blockage to date. Unicef warned that the lack of essential supplies could cause a spike in malnutrition and disease, leading to preventable deaths among children.Following the deaths of eight Palestinian medics, six Civil Defence responders, and a UN staff member in southern Gaza, the UN announced it would scale back operations within the region. The IDF initiated its campaign against Hamas—designated as a terrorist organization by several countries—after a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, that resulted in about 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages. According to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 50,399 people have perished in Gaza amid the ongoing hostilities.
