Statement on attacks in Khan Younis that killed at least 84 people including 24 children

Save the Children's Regional Director for the Middle East, Jeremy Stoner, said: 

“Nearly 10 months into this horrifying war, the devastation to children’s lives and disregard for legal protections has not ended. Israeli military forces continue to shrink the area of the zone they have declared “humanitarian”. Civilians are constantly under evacuation orders from areas previously deemed safe. In Khan Younis, thousands of families are fleeing Israeli airstrikes following new relocation orders that gave insufficient time for civilians to know from which areas they are required to leave or where they should go. At least 84 people have reportedly been killed in one day, including 24 children, according to the Ministry of Health. Health workers say they are overwhelmed by hundreds of cases at Nasser Hospital, and they lack medical supplies to treat patients. There is nowhere left for families in Gaza, and wherever they go, they still risk being targeted. 

Children in the occupied West Bank are not spared from violence. The UN said that the number of child casualties in the past nine months has increased by nearly 250%. A raid on Tulkarem refugee camp is putting more children at risk, with the Palestinian Red Crescent saying Israeli forces are obstructing their team’s movement, and they cannot reach all the wounded.  

We are outraged by the relentless and disproportionate violence against Palestinian children. We cannot allow this to become normalised. Those who have survived are living through inhumane conditions and extreme stress. We must protect them. They are children. There must be an immediate permanent ceasefire and accountability for any crimes committed. Without accountability, children will never be safe.”    

For further enquiries please contact: 

Randa Ghazy, Regional Media Manager for North Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe: Randa.Ghazy@savethechildren.org; 

Our media out of hours (BST) contact is media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409 

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