There is nothing in recent memory that matches the scale of the atrocities being inflicted on the civilians of Gaza, who appear to be being punished for their very existence. Every report and image coming out of this tiny but densely populated piece of land brings despair, horror and incredulity, with the question “How can this be happening?” being uppermost.

His statement was not made lightly:

• More children have been reported killed in just over 4 months in Gaza (over 12,300) than the number killed in wars globally in the 4 years to 2022 (12,193) (UNRWA, here).
• “Today no child in Gaza is free from fear, pain and hunger…..All children living in the Gaza Strip have lost their childhood”. (UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, here).
• UNICEF estimates that at least 17,000 children in the Gaza Strip are unaccompanied or separated from their parents.
• Children are now dying of starvation, as its use as a weapon intensifies. Mass killings of those desperately seeking food occur (see for example here).

Source: Israel: a nation killing and starving children – Pearls and Irritations