A Thousand Days of War: 245,000 Children in Gaza Face the Specter of Hunger and Malnutrition

The 'Save the Children' organization painted a grim picture of the humanitarian reality in the Gaza Strip after a thousand days of genocidal war, confirming that malnutrition is now ravaging the bodies of approximately 245,000 Palestinian children. The organization explained that markets are witnessing a shocking paradox, where non-nutritious goods like chocolate and potato chips are available, while necessities such as eggs and fruit have become a luxury that families cannot afford.

Recent reports issued by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry confirmed that Israeli occupation forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Statistics indicated that at least 21,000 children have been killed, with actual numbers likely much higher due to thousands missing under the rubble of destroyed homes.

Regarding displacement, data from the Site Management Group indicates that over 800,000 children, equivalent to 80% of the children in the Strip, have been forced to leave their homes and live in dilapidated tents and shelters. Forced displacement has also led to the separation of over 7,000 children from their parents, exacerbating the scale of the humanitarian and psychological tragedy affecting this vulnerable group.

Killing did not stop even during periods described as calm, as field sources reported the killing of an additional 275 children since last October by occupation bullets and shells. Among the victims was a child not older than eight years old targeted by a drone in Deir al-Balah, and a thirteen-year-old girl who died from shrapnel from artillery shelling targeting displaced persons' tents in the southern areas.

The education sector suffered a significant share of destruction, with approximately 625,000 school-aged children losing three full years of their formal education due to continuous escalation and targeting of educational facilities. This educational disruption threatens the entire future of a generation of children whose schools have either become overcrowded shelters or piles of rubble due to airstrikes.

On the psychological front, the United Nations Population Fund revealed a terrifying statistic indicating that 96% of children in Gaza live under the constant dread that death is imminent. This continuous terror results from the constant sounds of explosions and the loss of safety everywhere, leaving deep psychological scars that may not heal for many years, even if the aggression stops.

Estimates indicate that the Israeli war machine has damaged approximately 370,000 homes, representing about 77% of the total housing units in the Gaza Strip. This systematic destruction aims to make the Strip uninhabitable, especially with the continued prevention of entry of construction equipment and machinery necessary for rubble removal or partial reconstruction.

International sources warned of the shrinking areas available to Palestinians, as residents are pushed beyond the 'Yellow Line,' which represents less than 40% of the total area of the Strip. This overcrowded area lacks the minimum requirements for a dignified life and is constantly subjected to military incursions that further tighten the noose on displaced families.

The food crisis in Gaza is not limited to quantity but extends to quality, as available food lacks the healthy variety essential for children's physical and mental development. 'Save the Children' confirmed that the insane rise in prices has made obtaining a complete meal impossible for the majority of the population who have lost their sources of income and savings during the long months of war.

For his part, Ahmed Al-Hindawi, the regional director of the organization, criticized the international silence regarding what is happening, considering that the world has failed to protect a million children in Gaza over the past thousand days. He stressed that the continued transfer of weapons to Israel directly contributes to the perpetuation of these illegal practices and crimes committed against civilians and children.

Human rights organizations demanded full accountability for documented crimes and the immediate suspension of all forms of military support used to bomb residential areas. They explained that ignoring the voices and basic needs of children represents a stain on the conscience of the international community, which contents itself with expressions of concern without taking actual measures on the ground.

In heartbreaking stories, the report recalled the martyr Raghad Ashour, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike while on her way to take her high school exams, joining a long list of shattered dreams. These repeated incidents confirm that the occupation does not differentiate between military and civilian targets, and places children in the direct line of targeting to break the will of Palestinian society.

The report concluded that the occupation government deliberately fails to fulfill its legal obligations as an occupying power, especially concerning the provision of safe corridors for humanitarian aid. While children die of hunger and disease, restrictions on crossings continue, preventing the arrival of essential medicines, medical supplies, and food necessary to save thousands of threatened lives.

Every day of the past thousand days, the world has failed approximately one million children in Gaza by not intervening to stop the killing and maiming of children.