In the first six months of 2023, over 50 Palestinian children had been shot and killed by Israeli forces and 7 children had died as a result of airstrikes in Gaza.
Since the 7th October 2023, the number of Palestinian children losing their lives has reached frightening numbers and that death toll is still rising.
Over 11,500 children have been killed by Israeli Airstrikes since the 7th October. More than 2,000 children lie under the rubble.
At least 120 Palestinian children have been shot dead by Israeli forces or illegal settlers in the West Bank in 2023. They continue to be targeted in 2024.
Under international law, intentional lethal force is only justified in circumstances where a direct threat to life or of serious injury is present. Investigations and evidence collected by Defence for Children International Palestine regularly suggest that Israeli military use lethal force against Palestinian children in circumstances that may amount to extrajudicial or wilful killings.
To highlight this unlawful, intentional and unacceptable targeting of young people, Sadaka, The Ireland Palestine Alliance has sent a series of postcards to each member of the Dáil and Seanad. Each postcard will feature the image of a child who was murdered by Israeli forces and is produced with the cooperation of their grieving families. The cards are designed to humanise the media statistics and news reports that fail to reflect the awful loss of a young life and will detail the young person’s life and the dreadful circumstances of their killing.
In Gaza, one child is being killed every 10 minutes
Monthly average child casualties in conflicts
Mohammad Farid Mohammad Haj Ahmad, R.I.P
The first postcard commemorates the loss of Mohammad Ahmad, a 16-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot by an Israeli soldier, from a moving jeep as the Israeli army were leaving the West Bank city of Nablus following a military raid on February 22nd 2023. Video footage shows the Israeli army firing repeatedly into a group of civilians sheltering between a mosque and a clinic.
Mohammad was the 13th Palestinian child killed by Israeli forces in 2023, according to DCIP. Mohammad was a bright, popular and friendly boy who is sadly missed by his family and schoolfriends.
Omar Awadin, R.I.P
14-yr old Omar Awadin was riding his bicycle in front of his parents’ shop in Jenin, Occupied Palestine, at 3pm on the 16th March 2023 when undercover Israeli forces raided the city and shot him in the shoulder. He was pronounced dead at Jenin hospital later that afternoon.
He is one of 20 Palestinian children to be murdered by Israeli live fire this year. Such killings by Israeli forces will continue with impunity unless the international community takes action. Isn’t it time to speak up for Palestinian children like Omar?
Mayar Ezzeddin, Ali Ezzeddin, Hajar As- Bahtini, Layan Mdoukh, Yazen Elian, Eman Addas, Tamin Dawood, R.I.P
Over five days in May 2023 Israel bombarded Gaza killing 7 children.
Mayar Ezzeddin (11), Ali Ezzeddin (8) and Hajar As- Bahtini (5), died in missile strikes which targeted their homes. Layan Mdoukh (10), Yazen Elian (16) and Eman Addas (17) were killed by Israeli airstrikes on the besieged strip.
When the explosions occurred Tamin Dawood (5), who had a heart condition, suffered a severe panic attack. “He died at dawn on Wednesday because his heart could not bear the fear”, his mother said.