Children and women make up the majority of those killed in Gaza in the last 3 weeks

Emphasizing that there is no safe place in Gaza against Israeli attacks, Lazzarini said, "Children and women make up nearly 70 percent of those killed in Gaza in the last three weeks."

Lazzarini stated, “These cannot just be casualties. Churches, mosques, hospitals, and civilian facilities that serve as shelters for displaced people have not been spared; many people protected by international humanitarian law have been killed and injured. The current blockade in Gaza is a form of collective punishment.”

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director Catherine Russell also pointed out that more than 3,400 children have been killed and more than 6,300 children have been injured in Gaza so far due to Israeli attacks.

Russell said, “This means that more than 420 children are being killed or injured in Gaza every day, a figure that should shake each of us to our core.”

ANNOUNCED THE TOLL IN GAZA

Sharing the information that at least 221 schools and more than 177 thousand homes have been destroyed or damaged in Gaza, Russell warned that Gaza's vital needs, especially clean water, are rapidly depleting, and that the lack of clean water and sanitation is on the verge of becoming a catastrophe.

Russell stated, "All children deserve peace. Children cannot start conflicts and they have no power to stop them.”

Drawing attention to the fact that children are experiencing horrific trauma in the attacks that could have lifelong consequences, Russell said, “We and you have the power to help save these children from this cycle of violence. I implore the Security Council to immediately adopt a resolution that reminds the parties of their obligations under international law.”

Lisa Doughten, Director of the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), also reiterated that all parties must respect international humanitarian law, emphasizing the importance of urgently allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza.