Israel’s latest offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of 521 children, according to a human rights group.
The 50-day operation, which saw air strikes and operations by ground forces, killed 2,168 Palestinians, report the Al Mezan Center For Human Rights.
Israel Defense Forces said on Twitter that Palestinian civilians were being used as human shields.
It comes as English newspaper The Telegraph published the names of all the children allegedly killed, around a quarter of the total death toll (see below).
The Gaza Strip has a population of around 1.8 million, of which around 43.5 per cent is 14-years-old or under.
Al Mezan said in a statement: “The inhumane living conditions will persist for months to come in light of the destruction of thousands of apartments and residential units coupled with the lack of shelter alternatives for internationally displaced people (IDP). Al Mezan stresses that any delays in reconstruction or restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid and supplies would further exacerbate the already desperate living conditions for Palestinians in general, for IDPs, and critically, for the vulnerable populations of the IDPs, including the children, elderly, sick, injured, the people with disabilities, and women, who are already living in degrading conditions.”
A long-term ceasefire was agreed earlier this week, leading to claims of victory from both sides.
Source: The Daily Telegraph / Al Mezan Center for Human Rights