“Gaza Strip is most dangerous place to be a child” – 1 December 2023

“THE Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child”, says UNICEF boss Catherine Russell.

The comments came after Israel and Hamas agreed to a four-day truce to allow some hostages to be freed and humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel to reach Gaza. The truce was then extended by another two days.

By Tuesday 28 November, the temporary truce had seen 69 hostages in Gaza being released, 51 of whom were women and children held since Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October. A further 17 Thai hostages and one Filipino were also released as part of a separate deal between Hamas and the Egyptian government.

Hamas said that 150 Palestinian women and teenagers would be released from jails in Israel in return.

Further releases could get tricky, as some hostages are being held by other terrorist groups, not just Hamas.

Talking about children in Gaza, Russell said: “The agreement to release hostages is welcomed but much more needs to be done. More than 5,300 Palestinian children have been reportedly killed in just 46 days – that is over 115 a day, every day, for weeks and weeks. Based on these figures, children account for 40% of the deaths in Gaza. In other words, today, the Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.”

Although many families are relieved to have their loved ones home, others say they can’t celebrate until the war is over and everyone has their freedom back.

Organisations such as UNICEF and Oxfam are calling for an urgent ceasefire (end to the war) so that children can get the help and protection that they desperately need.

Published Friday 1 December 2023

Picture credit: Getty