War on Gaza orphaned over 17,000 children, Gov. says
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Another generation of children in Gaza is growing up deeply scarred by the ongoing Israeli genocide, bearing the psychological and emotional scars inflicted by the loss of one parent or both parents.
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Palestinian children crying while holding the body of their mother who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza in November 2023 (AP)
In a heartwrenching revelation, the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that over 17,000 children have become orphans since the start of the Israeli genocide against Palestinians in Gaza more than eight months ago.
More shockingly, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza, three percent of the orphaned children in the region have tragically lost both parents due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.
'Families are tortured'
Save the Children, a leading humanitarian organization for children reported that around 21,000 Palestinian children are believed to be missing due to "Israel’s" intense attacks on Gaza. This estimate includes approximately 17,000 children who are separated from their families and unaccompanied, as well as about 4,000 children who are feared to be missing under the rubble.
The organization also highlighted that some children might have been buried in unmarked graves, while others have forcibly disappeared, including those abducted and taken out of Gaza.
“Families are tortured by the uncertainty of the whereabouts of their loved ones. No parent should have to dig through rubble or mass graves to try and find their child’s body. No child should be alone, unprotected in a war zone. No child should be detained or held hostage,” said Jeremy Stoner, Save the Children’s regional director for the Middle East.
He emphasized the critical need for a ceasefire in Gaza, describing it as essential to supporting the surviving missing children and preventing further devastation of families.
'Israel' killed over 14,000 children
Earlier this year, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that "Israel" has killed over 14,000 children in Gaza since October 7, with others being starved to death due to malnutrition as a result of the total Israeli blockade.
"Since October, Gaza has faced relentless violence which has killed over 37,000 people, including thousands of children," as per the Save the Children report.
As of June 9, the report also indicated that approximately 250 Palestinian children are unaccounted for in the occupied West Bank.
Read more: UN Guterres puts 'Israel' on list of global offenders against children
