UNICEF: Suffering of Gaza's Children Continues Despite Ceasefire

The spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Palestine, Kazim Abu Khalaf, stated that despite the ceasefire in Gaza, the suffering of children continues due to the severe cold, attacks, and malnutrition resulting from ongoing restrictions.

In his statements, Abu Khalaf clarified that the residents of the Gaza Strip, especially civilians, women, and children, are still suffering, and that Gaza has been witnessing extremely harsh attacks since October 2023.

He added: "According to reports, more than 80 children have been killed after the ceasefire was announced. The weather conditions are unbearable for children, as temperatures continue to drop. We have received reports of tents being flooded with water. And despite all the efforts made by UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations to provide assistance to those in need, the situation remains extremely difficult."

Abu Khalaf confirmed that children are the most affected by the Israeli attacks, and that they have suffered indescribable pain due to the ongoing attacks since two years ago.

Abu Khalaf reported that more than 20,000 children have been killed and more than 44,000 injured in the ongoing Israeli attacks since October 2023, and that the situation in Gaza affects not only the bodies of children, but also their psychological state and minds.

He continued: "Thousands of children have become orphans. Thousands of others have lost a leg or an arm, or perhaps both. All school-aged children, numbering 638,000, have lost two academic years."

He continued: "All children, who make up half the population of the Gaza Strip, need some form of psychological and social support."

He pointed out that some figures recently published by the World Health Organization indicate the need to evacuate about 4,000 children from Gaza for health reasons.

Since October 10, a ceasefire has been in effect, which Israel violates its terms and delays moving to the second phase, claiming that the remains of one of its soldiers remain captive in Gaza, despite the Palestinian factions continuing to search for him amid the massive destruction caused by Israel.

The agreement was supposed to end the genocide committed by Tel Aviv over two years starting from October 8, 2023, which resulted in about 71,000 Palestinian deaths and more than 171,000 injuries, mostly children and women, but Israel continues its violations and tight blockade on the sector.

Despite the end of the genocide war, the living reality for Palestinians in Gaza has not improved due to the strict restrictions imposed by Israel on the entry of aid trucks, thus violating the humanitarian protocol of the agreement.