Gaza City, once a refuge for families in the northern Gaza Strip, has transformed into a perilous landscape where childhood survival hangs by a thread, according to Tess Ingram, UNICEF's Middle East and North Africa communication manager. Speaking via video conference from Gaza during a UN briefing on Thursday, Ingram described the city as a place defined by 'fear, flight, and funerals' amid escalating military operations.
Nearly 1 million residents remain trapped in Gaza City, facing what Ingram called an 'unthinkable tragedy' if hostilities intensify. She recounted harrowing encounters with displaced families: children separated from parents, mothers mourning starvation-related deaths, and young patients recovering from shrapnel injuries. 'Palestinian life is being dismantled here,' she emphasized, stressing that children's suffering stems directly from systemic choices undermining civilian safety.
Critical infrastructure is collapsing, with only 44 of 92 UNICEF-supported nutrition centers operational – a devastating blow to malnourished children. Ingram urged Israel to review its rules of engagement under international law, called on Hamas to release hostages, and pressed both sides to reinstate ceasefires. She also appealed for global intervention to alleviate the crisis.
Israeli military officials confirmed control over 40% of Gaza City on Thursday, while local health authorities reported at least 53 deaths from recent strikes. Forces now approach the city center, deepening concerns for civilians unable to flee.
