The Israeli military’s latest assault on Gaza has resulted in one of the deadliest days for Palestinian children in the region’s history. At least 174 children were killed in a single day, according to Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), with an overall toll of more than 400 Palestinians killed and 500 wounded. The true number of casualties is expected to rise as many remain trapped under the rubble following Israel’s intense aerial bombardment.
“Today marks one of the largest one-day child death tolls in Gaza in history,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, DCIP’s accountability program director.
“Israeli forces have signed a death warrant for Palestinian children in Gaza as they carry out nonstop attacks, continue to destroy civilian infrastructure, and prevent any humanitarian aid from reaching Palestinians in need,” Eqtaish continued. “This is nothing short of genocide.”
The scale of devastation has left Gaza’s hospitals overwhelmed and struggling to cope with the influx of wounded patients. The attack has drawn international condemnation, with many calling it a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement and an escalation of the humanitarian crisis that has already reached catastrophic levels.
The 24-hour period of bombardment marked one of the worst days for children in Gaza’s history. Entire families were wiped out, including that of human rights activist Ramy Abdu’s sister, who was killed along with her three children.
“Israel may kill us at will, burn us alive, and tear us apart, but it will never succeed in uprooting us from our land,” Abdu wrote on social media, sharing a picture of his niece and nephew, Omar and Lian, smiling at the camera.
A Palestinian doctor, obstetrics-gynecology specialist Majda Abu Aker, was also among those killed along with her family in their home in southern Gaza. The attack on her residence killed over a dozen people, including a three-day-old girl.
Hospitals across Gaza remain in crisis mode, with severe shortages of medical supplies due to Israel’s long-standing blockade. Al-Shifa Hospital director Muhammad Abu Salmiya warned, “Every minute, a wounded person dies due to a lack of resources.”
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli forces have killed over 18,000 Palestinian children in Gaza, according to health officials. DCIP has warned that the actual toll is likely even higher due to children dying from preventable conditions such as malnutrition, dehydration, and hypothermia amid Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid.
The ceasefire agreement, which had temporarily reduced the violence, collapsed amid growing violations. According to reports, Israel had continued to enforce a total blockade on humanitarian aid even during the ceasefire period and had been carrying out targeted killings. At least 150 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces before the latest escalation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the bombing campaign by claiming it was in response to Hamas’s refusal to release Israeli captives. However, Hamas officials have stated they were committed to the original ceasefire terms, which would have included a full release of captives in exchange for an end to Israel’s siege.
“The acknowledgment by the U.S. administration that it was informed in advance of the Zionist aggression confirms its direct partnership in the war of extermination against our people,” Hamas said in a statement. “With its unlimited political and military support for the occupation, Washington bears full responsibility for the massacres and killing of women and children in Gaza.”
Netanyahu has vowed that the bombings are “only the beginning,” signaling an intensification of military operations in the coming weeks.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire. Israel’s blockade has prevented the entry of food, water, and medical supplies for months, and hospitals are struggling to function under the weight of casualties.
“Since March 2, Israel has reimposed a total siege on Gaza, blocking the entry of all humanitarian aid, medicine, and commercial supplies, including fuel and food, in flagrant violation of international law,” said Amnesty International secretary general Agnès Callamard.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that starvation is being used as a weapon of war. UN agencies report that thousands of children are now at risk of dying from malnutrition and dehydration.
Al Jazeera reported that families are being bombed while attempting to flee, with some killed in their vehicles as they tried to evacuate. One survivor, Ahmed Abu Rizq, described the scene at a local hospital:
“There was blood everywhere,” he said. “Families were arriving carrying the remains of their children.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote: “I am outraged by the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. I strongly appeal for the ceasefire to be respected, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished, and for the remaining hostages to be released unconditionally.”
Human Rights Watch’s Israel and Palestine director, Omar Shakir, stated: “The reported killings of hundreds of Palestinians amid Israel’s renewed assault on Gaza is alarming. The Israeli authorities have committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, including forced displacement and extermination, and acts of genocide during the assault on Gaza.”
Palestine solidarity protests erupted worldwide, with demonstrators gathering in London, Ramallah, Berlin, Washington, D.C., and New York. Jewish Voice for Peace called the attacks a “campaign of extermination,” stating, “All of this is made possible by the U.S. government, which has funded and fueled these atrocities.”
Progressive lawmakers in the U.S. also spoke out. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) stated, “The Israeli apartheid regime has resumed its genocide, carrying out airstrikes all across Gaza and killing hundreds of Palestinians. This comes after a complete blockade of food, electricity, and aid. They will never stop until there are sanctions and an arms embargo.”
Despite the mounting death toll, the U.S. has continued to provide military and diplomatic support to Israel. Over the past 17 months, the U.S. has allocated over $17 billion in military aid to Israel, fueling its military campaigns in Gaza.
The Trump administration has openly endorsed Israel’s actions, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating, “All hell will break loose” on Hamas and its allies. The administration’s stance has been widely condemned by human rights organizations and progressive lawmakers, who argue that continued U.S. military support is enabling war crimes.
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