The Ministry of Health in Gaza has launched a global campaign appealing for urgent solidarity with Gaza’s children, as the Strip sinks further into a devastating humanitarian abyss.

More than 16,278 children have been killed since the beginning of the Israeli military assault, according to the Ministry, meaning one child has lost their life every 40 minutes. Shockingly, 311 children were born during the war — only to be killed before they had a chance to live. The figures, shared during Monday’s launch of the campaign, lay bare the human cost of the ongoing blockade and bombardment.

With Gaza’s crossings sealed and humanitarian supplies blocked for over two months, more than two million people are enduring famine-like conditions. The destruction of primary healthcare centres has left pregnant women and children without access to even the most basic medical care. More than half of all essential maternal and child health medications are no longer available, including vaccines, vitamins, and therapeutic supplements.

The continued denial of polio vaccines has raised alarms over a potential public health collapse. The toll of malnutrition continues to grow, with at least 57 children confirmed to have died from hunger and related health complications. In one of the most disturbing developments, children were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes on charitable kitchens as they queued for food.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health has issued a desperate call to health professionals, humanitarian organisations, journalists, and activists worldwide: this is not simply a plea for solidarity—it is a plea for rescue. A generation is being wiped out in full view of the international community. Their childhoods, their futures, and their lives are being stolen.