Oxfam says more women, children killed by Israel in Gaza than in any other conflict in two decades

A new report by Oxfam has revealed that more women and children have been killed in Gaza by the Israeli military over the past year than in any other conflict over the past two decades. More than 6,000 women and 11,000 children have been killed in Gaza over the past 12 months, prompting urgent demands for an immediate and permanent ceasefire as violence escalates in Lebanon and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa Director, Sally Abi Khalil, described the situation as “both appalling and heartbreaking,” criticising the international community for failing to hold Israel accountable.

“These staggering figures are both appalling and heartbreaking,” she said. “Influential actors in the international community have not only failed to hold Israel to account, they are also complicit in the atrocities by continuing to unconditionally supply it with arms. It will take generations to recover from the devastating impacts of this war and there is still no ceasefire in sight.”

Other sources put the number of women and children killed by Israel much higher. In August, for example, Al Jazeera reported that “more than 40,000” Palestinians had been killed, “at least 16,456 of them children and over 11,000 women.”

The Oxfam report also highlighted data from the group Every Casualty Counts, which shows that Gaza has seen over five times more child deaths this past year than between 2005 and 2022 combined.

Alongside the devastating loss of life, the destruction of Gaza’s infrastructure has been catastrophic. Over 68 per cent of cropland and vital roads have been either destroyed or severely damaged. Only 17 of 36 hospitals remain partially operational, all of which face critical shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and clean water. Palestinian civilians have been forcibly displaced multiple times, moving between “safe zones” that often fail to meet basic humanitarian needs and are frequently targeted by Israeli attacks.

Moreover, Action on Armed Violence reports that Israeli forces have hit civilian infrastructure with explosive weapons every three hours since the conflict began, resulting in widespread destruction.

The report also notes that more than 25,000 children have been left orphaned or have lost at least one parent, leaving many to deal with severe physical injuries, anxiety and trauma. Dr Umaiyeh Khammash, director of Oxfam partner Juzoor, described the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe as “devastating,” with thousands of people now seeking shelter in over 90 health points and shelters across Gaza.

“The past year has had a devastating impact with women bearing a double burden,” explained Dr Khammash. “Many have suddenly become the heads of their households, navigating survival and care in the midst of destruction. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers have faced immense difficulties, including from the collapse in healthcare services.”

She added that for children, the trauma is equally profound. “Over 25,000 children have either lost a parent or become orphans, leaving them in deep emotional distress. Most children are grappling with anxiety and severe physical injuries, with many having lost limbs.”

Oxfam is calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and an end to arms sales to Israel. The report also demands full humanitarian access to Gaza and urges the international community to enforce accountability by addressing the illegal Israeli occupation, removing settlements in the occupied West Bank, and providing reparations to affected Palestinian communities.

READ: Al Jazeera investigation exposes Israeli ‘war crimes’ in Gaza