November 20 marks World Children’s Day, a global initiative aimed at promoting the rights, safety, education, health and overall happiness of children worldwide. Unfortunately, this year’s observance takes place amidst Israel’s war on Gaza, where nearly half of the population of 2.3 million is made up of children.

Since October 7th, devastating Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least 5,500 children as reported by Palestinian officials. This means that on average, one Palestinian child has been killed every 10 minutes, highlighting the severity of the situation. Additionally, around 1,800 children are still missing under the rubble with many feared to be dead. On top of that, a staggering 9,000 children have been injured with many facing life-altering consequences as a result of the conflict. Sadly, many of these children have already experienced the trauma of multiple wars in their short lives.

The heartbreaking reality of the situation is further highlighted in an infographic that displays the names and ages of less than half of the children who have been killed in the past six weeks. This serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact that ongoing conflict is having on innocent lives in Gaza. On a day dedicated to celebrating children it is essential to acknowledge and address urgent need for their protection and well-being particularly in areas affected by conflict and violence.