Children are suffering from escalation of conflict in Gaza and southern Israel
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Palestinian boy washes his face
Children have been victims of the recent escalation of conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.
The Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict says that since Wednesday, 60 Palestinian children were reportedly injured and at least four reportedly killed during Israeli airstrikes including an 11 month old boy, as well as a pregnant woman.
The United Nations has also received information of more than 50 Israeli civilians injured by rockets fired from Gaza into Israel. Reports indicate that children were among the casualties.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Ms. Leila Zerrougui has called "on all parties to immediately stop the violence and to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect girls and boys from the fighting".
The outbreak of hostilities also threatens children's access to education. All educational facilities in Gaza and schools in southern Israel within a 40 km radius of the border with Gaza were closed due to the increasing number of attacks.
Special Representative Zerrougui stressed that "especially in times of conflict, the security of schools, students and teachers and access to education for all children must be guaranteed."
Donn Bobb, United Nations.
Duration: 1’10″
