At least 2,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the recent escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict two weeks ago, humanitarian organization Save the Children said on Monday.
"At least 2,000 children have been killed in Gaza over the past 17 days … with constant airstrikes reducing thousands of buildings across the Gaza Strip to piles of smoking rubble," the organization said in a statement.
The statement added that 27 children were also killed in the West Bank.
"We call on all parties to take immediate steps to protect the lives of children, and on the international community to support those efforts. Everything possible must be done to protect children from harm – and provide them with the support they need," Save the Children’s Country Director for Palestine Jason Lee said.
On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip. Israel launched retaliatory strikes and ordered a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off supplies of water, food and fuel.