The Israeli military has killed 18,592 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Thursday.
Among the dead are newborns—some struck by bombs within hours of birth, according to detailed figures released by the ministry. Nine babies were killed on the day they were born. Five died the next day, five more the following day, and eight by their third day.
The toll includes 88 infants aged one month, 90 aged two months, and 78 aged three months, the ministry’s report added. Israel’s relentless bombardment has reduced swathes of Gaza to rubble and plunged the enclave into a deep humanitarian crisis.
Since October 7, the offensive has killed more than 60,200 Palestinians, with survivors facing food shortages, displacement, and collapsed healthcare services.
On Monday, Israeli rights groups B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights-Israel accused the government of committing genocide against Palestinians. The groups cited Israel’s systematic destruction of homes, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure, calling it a deliberate effort to dismantle Palestinian society.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The court cited war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza campaign.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is hearing a separate genocide case against Israel, further intensifying international scrutiny. As Gaza’s children continue to die in staggering numbers, global calls for accountability grow louder and more urgent.
