UNICEF: Over 50 children lost their lives in Gaza’s Jabalia within a 48-hour
Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, has described the deaths of over 50 children within a 48-hour timeframe in Jabalia, located in the northern Gaza Strip, as a "dark chapter" in the ongoing conflict in the region. She referred to this incident as a stark example of the "terrible" consequences of the Israeli military actions against the blockaded territory.
In a statement released Saturday on the United Nations agency’s website, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell condemned recent assaults by Israeli forces over the weekend, which resulted in the deaths of numerous Palestinians, including children. Russell also noted that humanitarian aid was obstructed and UN personnel came under attack.
The northern region of Gaza has experienced a particularly lethal series of assaults this weekend. Reports indicate that in the last 48 hours, more than 50 children have tragically lost their lives in the Jabalia area. This follows airstrikes that devastated two residential buildings, which had been providing refuge to hundreds of individuals.
She underscored the significant risks faced by humanitarian workers, particularly those engaged in critical initiatives like polio vaccination campaigns.
This morning, a UNICEF staff member’s personal vehicle, involved in the polio vaccination initiative, was reportedly targeted by gunfire from an aerial drone while traversing the Jabalia-Elnazla region. The vehicle sustained damage; however, the staff member emerged unharmed but is experiencing significant distress from the incident.
“Reports indicate that at least three children were injured following an attack near a vaccination clinic in Sheikh Radwan, coinciding with an ongoing polio vaccination campaign, according to a statement.”
Russell issued a strong condemnation of the recent attacks on Jabalia, the vaccination clinic, and UNICEF staff. He characterized these incidents as components of what he described as a wider Israeli strategy of indiscriminate assaults on civilians in the Gaza Strip, which he termed genocidal.
Recent assaults on locations such as Jabalia, a vaccination clinic, and the presence of a UNICEF staff member underscore the severe ramifications resulting from indiscriminate attacks on civilian populations within the Gaza Strip.
“Amidst the alarming toll of child fatalities in North Gaza from previous strikes, the recent incidents further mark a grim continuation in one of the most somber phases of this devastating conflict,” she cautioned.
She underscored that international humanitarian law requires the safeguarding of civilians, civilian infrastructure, humanitarian personnel, and their vehicles amid hostilities.
According to Russell, even when displacement or evacuation orders are issued, all parties remain obligated to differentiate between military and civilian targets. They must also ensure the principle of proportionality and take all feasible precautions in their attacks.
She expressed regret that these principles are continuously violated, resulting in tens of thousands of children being killed, injured, and deprived of critical services essential for their survival.
She called for an immediate cessation of hostilities targeting civilians, humanitarian personnel, and the last standing civilian infrastructure in Gaza. Emphasizing the critical conditions in Northern Gaza, she pointed out that the entire Palestinian population, especially children, are facing severe risks of death due to disease, starvation, and ongoing attacks.
A spokesperson has stated that UNICEF has formally requested the Israeli government to swiftly conduct an investigation into the incident involving an attack on one of its staff members. The organization is urging for measures to ensure accountability for those deemed responsible.
In October 2023, the Israeli government initiated a military campaign in the Gaza Strip in response to an operation carried out by the Hamas organization.
In a significant escalation last month, Israeli military forces commenced a comprehensive air and ground offensive targeting northern Gaza, resulting in numerous Palestinian casualties. Among the victims were a considerable number of innocent children.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that the cumulative fatalities resulting from sustained Israeli military actions have risen to 43,314.
Reports indicate that since October 7, 2023, the Israeli offensive has resulted in injuries to over 102,000 Palestinians.
A significant portion of the Palestinian casualties have been reported as women and children, highlighting the impact on some of the most vulnerable populations.
