On November 20th, World Children’s Day is celebrated across the globe with a focus on promoting the rights, safety, education, and overall happiness of children worldwide. This year, the event is taking place amidst Israel’s ongoing war against Gaza, where nearly half of the 2.3 million inhabitants are children.
The conflict has resulted in devastating consequences for Palestinian children since October 7th. At least 5,500 have been killed as reported by Palestinian officials, with one child dying every 10 minutes on average. Additionally, over 1,800 children remain missing under the rubble and many are feared dead. Over 9,000 children have been injured as well, many of whom will face life-changing consequences due to the conflict. Sadly, many of these children have already experienced trauma from multiple wars in their short lives.
An infographic highlighting the names and ages of less than half of the children killed in the past six weeks serves as a stark reminder of how the ongoing conflict is affecting innocent lives in Gaza. It is imperative that we recognize and address the urgent need for their protection and well-being on this day dedicated to celebrating children worldwide.