I am writing to urgently request your immediate attention and action regarding the ongoing and disproportionate violence against children in Gaza.
Yesterday, a video shared by Palestinian Journalist Motaz Azaiza depicted a horrifying and heart-wrenching scene. A man was seen carrying a child into the back of an ambulance, the child’s head obliterated and shredded by an Israeli bomb blast. Only their bloodied t-shirt design bearing a pineapple allowed for any semblance of identification. This child was a victim of an Israeli air strike on 19th June, in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood in the north of Gaza, however, the bombings continue day and night across the Strip.
The decapitation of children from bomb blasts is not a new occurrence. Tragically, we have seen this many times in recent months. Children are nearly seven times more likely to die from blast injuries than adults.
Save the Children found that, across five of the deadliest global conflicts for children, an average of 72% of child casualties were caused by explosive weapons. Over a recent 8 year period, at least 15,248 children were killed or injured by explosive violence around the world. In the past 8 months alone, Israel has killed over 15,630 children, and injured tens of thousands more. This statistic highlights the severe targeting of children in Gaza.
It is essential you ensure an end to the mass slaughter of children. Israel must be sanctioned to enforce an immediate ceasefire to stop these attacks, also allowing for full access to humanitarian aid and the rebuilding of vital infrastructure in Gaza. These crimes cannot be allowed to continue, therefore it is crucial to support the prosecution of war crimes by the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
I implore you to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further loss of life and to ensure a just and lasting resolution for the people of Gaza. The international community must not remain silent in the face of such grave atrocities.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
References: Imperial College London, ReliefWeb, Save the Children UK, EuroMed Human Rights Monitor, United Nations, Testimonies from Journalists in Gaza
