More than 16,000 children killed in Gaza since war starts: health authorities

6/5/2025 7:19

More than 16,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the onset of Israel's military offensive on Oct. 7, 2023, at a rate of one child every 40 minutes, Gaza-based health authorities reported on Monday.



Marwan al-Hams, director of field hospitals with Gaza's health authorities, said the toll included 16,278 children, among them 908 infants and 311 newborns who died after birth. Al-Hams made the statement during a press briefing at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.



He highlighted that the humanitarian situation had significantly worsened since Israel closed the crossings in early March, disrupting essential healthcare services. This has left thousands of children and pregnant women without access to medical care, further exacerbating the crisis.