Nearly 300 Palestinian Children Killed in Gaza
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
At least 296 Palestinian children and adolescents have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas on July 8, the U.N. said on Saturday.
"Children make up for 30 percent of the civilian casualties," said the U.N. children's agency UNICEF, adding that the toll was based on deaths which it was able to verify and was likely to rise.
"The number of child casualties during the last 48 hours may rise as a number of incidents are pending verification," it said in a statement.
UNICEF stressed that its figures are "cross-checked to the best extent possible in the current situation... subject to change based on further verifications."
"Between 8 July and 2 August 2014 (up until 11:00), at least 296 Palestinian children were reported killed as a result of airstrikes and shelling by Israel aerial, naval and ground forces," it said.
The toll breaks down to 187 boys and 109 girls, with at least 203 of them under the age of 12.
More than 1,650 Palestinians in the Gaza enclave have been killed since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge last month, aimed at halting militant rocket fire.
Most of those killed have been civilians, and more than 8,900 have been wounded.
Israel has itself lost 63 soldiers, while two civilians and a Thai worker have been killed inside the Jewish state.
It blames Hamas for the Gaza deaths, accusing the Islamist movement of using civilians as human shields.
03 August 2014, 22:22
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Dear Palestinians, PLO, Hamas and Jihadists and the immoral animals who support them: I am sorry and sad for the loss of human life, especially the children and I hold you directly responsible for their death. You want the world to side with you yet you refuse to denounce terrorism, you refuse to denounce jihad and you refuse to denounce all the violent texts in your outdated holy book. I am not an enemy of Islam, I am an enemy of all who use the Qur'an as a platform for hate and violence. We are no longer fooled by your false cause because those who are negotiating on your behalf insist that the only acceptable solution is the complete and total annihilation of Israel? Really? The Israelis die and the Palestinians live? That's the peace you want to shove down our throats? It's time to change your leadership and accept a two state solution, then the world will defend you and support you.
