The head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Catherine Russell, has condemned Israel’s airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, stating that they caused the highest single-day child death toll in the past year.
Russell described the emerging reports and images from Gaza as “beyond horrifying,” revealing that more than 130 children were among the hundreds killed in Tuesday’s attacks. “This represents the largest single-day child death toll in the last year,” she said in a statement.
She stressed that the airstrikes not only claimed lives but also worsened the suffering of an already vulnerable population. “Some of the strikes reportedly hit makeshift shelters with sleeping children and families, another deadly reminder that nowhere is safe in Gaza,” she added.
Highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis, Russell pointed to Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid. “It has been sixteen days since the last truck delivering humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza. In addition, electricity has been cut to the main desalination plant, significantly reducing the amount of potable water,” she stated. She emphasised that the war, which has raged for over 15 months, has left Gaza’s one million children trapped in a cycle of fear and death. “The attacks and the violence must stop – now,” she urged.
Calling for an immediate halt to hostilities, the UNICEF chief demanded that all parties reinstate a ceasefire and urged influential nations to intervene to prevent further deterioration of the situation. “International humanitarian law must be respected by all parties, allowing the immediate provision of humanitarian aid, the protection of civilians, and the release of all hostages,” she stated.
