1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The unconscionable killing of children in Gaza must end immediately. More children have tragically died in the last four months than in four years of global conflicts combined. This is an utter failure of humanity. Innocent young lives are being snuffed out at a staggering rate amid the bombardment and warfare raging in the enclave. The statistics are appalling - over 12,300 children killed in Gaza compared to 12,193 worldwide from 2019-2022. This war represents an assault on childhood itself, robbing kids of their futures before their lives have truly begun. UNRWA has lost staff killed in the violence, with over 150 of its facilities struck. Even aid distribution sites have been hit, exacerbating the dire humanitarian crisis as food supplies dwindle and famine conditions take hold. 25 people, 21 of them children, have already perished from severe malnutrition and dehydration in northern Gaza alone. This senseless bloodshed must stop now before more young lives are forever lost. All sides must immediately cease hostilities and uphold their obligations under international law to protect civilians, especially the most vulnerable children. No cause can possibly justify inflicting such wanton suffering and death upon the innocents. For the sake of Gaza's youth and to prevent this man-made tragedy from worsening further, a ceasefire enabling unfettered humanitarian access throughout the territory is urgently needed.