Adham Abu Selmiya
Middle East Monitor / July 27, 2024
“I’ve seen more incinerated children than I’ve ever seen in my entire life combined. I’ve seen more shredded children in just the first week,” shared Dr Mark Perlmutter, a Jewish-American doctor, in a harrowing testimony that reminds us of the true nature of Israel’s war on Gaza. His interview on CBS, which went viral this week, provided a shocking account of the suffering endured by Gaza’s children due to the Israeli aggression. Dr Perlmutter, an orthopedic surgeon, has been on over 40 mission trips in 30 years, including disasters like earthquakes and Ground Zero. However, nothing prepared him for the civilian carnage he witnessed in Gaza. He recounted seeing children with severe injuries, including sniper wounds and described the dire medical and humanitarian crisis, with hospitals in Gaza largely destroyed and children facing extreme trauma without adequate care. In this piece, we try to dive deeper into the reality of Israel’s war on children in Palestine.
Eyewitness accounts and testimonies
Dr Perlmutter’s testimony is echoed by numerous other medical professionals who have witnessed the harrowing conditions in Gaza. In a Politico article, Dr Perlmutter and Dr Feroze Sidhwa recount their experiences at Gaza European Hospital. The dire situation they describe includes a nine-year-old girl named Juri, who arrived in septic shock with horrific injuries from an explosion. Despite their extensive experience in disaster zones, the doctors were unprepared for the overwhelming number of maimed children, the unbearable stench of death and decay and the sheer scale of human suffering.
Dr Perlmutter also provided a chilling account of children being targeted by snipers. “I have children that were shot twice,” he said. When asked if children in Gaza were being shot by snipers, he responded definitively: “Definitively. I have two children that I have photographs of that were shot so perfectly in the chest I couldn’t put my stethoscope over their heart more accurately and directly on the side of the head in the same child. No toddler gets shot twice by mistake by the world’s best sniper and they’re dead centre shots.”
He adds that the hospital, operating at 359 per cent of its capacity, was filled with 15,000 displaced people, and patients were housed in every conceivable space. The doctors treated children with severe injuries, often without adequate supplies. Their account paints a grim picture of Gaza as “the world’s most dangerous place to be a child,” a sentiment reinforced by the constant drone of Israeli aircraft and the relentless bombings.
Moreover, heart-wrenching testimonies from other doctors who volunteered in Gaza further highlight the catastrophic impact on children. An American medic recounted treating explosive injuries and burns, wounds rarely seen in the US. A trauma nurse from Oregon spoke of the heartbreak of seeing children with glitter on their fingernails and discoloured hair, symbols of their lost innocence. She described the frustration and despair of working in an ICU where no wounded patients survived.
These testimonies are just a few among countless others that reveal the unimaginable horrors faced by Gaza’s children. As Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan noted, many children are missing, trapped under rubble or buried in mass graves, adding another layer to the tragedy. The collective stories from these medical professionals underscore the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the Israeli military is deliberately targeting the youngest and most vulnerable. The testimonials are endless and heartbreaking, and Dr Perlmutter’s account is just a drop in the sea of suffering endured by Gaza’s children.
The devastating impact on Gaza’s children: Statistics and reports
The harrowing testimonies of doctors are supported by grim statistics that highlight the severe impact of the conflict on Gaza’s children. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, as of 22 July, 2024, 16,251 children have been killed, and 70 per cent of the total casualties are women and children, a stark indication of deliberate targeting. This is a significant increase compared to the previous wars, demonstrating the escalating Israeli brutality.
On the other side, the West Bank is far from being a safe haven for children. United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund reports a 250 per cent increase in Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank since 7 October, with 143 children killed and over 440 injured by live ammunition. Meanwhile, nearly 100 per cent of Gaza’s children are now afflicted with diseases, including skin infections, viral hepatitis and other epidemic diseases, due to the catastrophic living conditions. The World Health Organization has expressed deep concern about potential epidemic outbreaks, such as polio, discovered in the sewage water. These statistics underscore the immense suffering and dire humanitarian crisis faced by Gaza’s youngest.
Incitement and statements from Israeli officials
The alarming reality of the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in Gaza is underscored by inflammatory rhetoric from Israeli leaders. Rabbi Eliyahu Mali, in a widely circulated video, called for the killing of Gaza’s women and children, claiming it aligns with Jewish religious law. He justified these actions with the chilling logic that if they are not killed, they will grow up to kill Israelis. In the video, he stated: “In our holy war, and in our case in Gaza, according to the Torah (you shall not let any soul live), the logic is very clear: if you do not kill them, they will kill you.” Furthermore, he claimed: “The terrorists of today are the children of the previous war whom we allowed to live, and the women are the ones who produce the terrorists.”
This extremist ideology is mirrored in the statements of high-ranking officials. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant referred to Palestinians as “human animals” and ordered a complete siege on Gaza, stating there would be “no electricity, no food, no fuel”. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed genocidal sentiments, invoking the biblical story of Amalek and calling for the eradication of Gaza. He chillingly remarked that the civilian deaths in Gaza are “collateral damage” and emphasized the need for cultural changes in Gaza similar to those imposed on Japan and Germany after World War II. Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu even suggested dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza, asserting that there were “no uninvolved civilians” in the territory. Such statements, along with numerous others from Israeli officials, reveal a clear and terrifying intention to wipe out the Palestinian people, especially the children, in a bid to eliminate any future resistance.
Social engineering and long-term impact
The actions of the Israeli occupation in Gaza appear to be a deliberate attempt at social engineering, aiming to debilitate the future generation of Palestinians. As evidenced by the incendiary remarks of figures like Rabbi Eliyahu Mali, the intent is clear: to render this generation of children incapable of carrying the mantle of resistance or continuing the Palestinian struggle.
This is achieved through widespread killing, injuries, disabilities, detentions and the spread of long-lasting diseases. The brutal reality is that children in Gaza are now suffering from a host of chronic conditions, including renal failure, skin diseases, and respiratory ailments, all exacerbated by the dire living conditions and lack of medical care. The Israeli enemy understands that children are the human reservoir of resistance and recognizes the unwavering support of the Palestinian people for the resistance movement. By systematically targeting and decimating this vital demographic, Israel aims to eliminate any potential future threat. This devastating strategy not only seeks to demoralise but also to physically incapacitate the very foundation of Palestinian society.
The future of Gaza’s children
From day one, Israel’s war on Gaza has unequivocally been a war on children. The harrowing testimonies of Dr Perlmutter and other medical professionals reveal an unprecedented targeting of children, painting a chilling picture that this is not an outlier but the everyday reality in Gaza. The numbers tell a stark story: thousands of children were killed and maimed, with countless more suffering from chronic diseases in the wake of relentless bombardment and siege. This deliberate targeting is further validated by the incendiary rhetoric from Israeli leaders, who openly advocate for the eradication of Gaza’s future generation.
This disaster is unlike anything the world has seen before, yet the international community remains silent, failing to act decisively to stop Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and its children. However, history has shown that such brutal tactics will not succeed in breaking the Palestinian spirit or their pursuit of freedom. The resilience and determination of the Palestinian people to end the occupation and return to their land remain unshaken. It is imperative for the world to wake up and take action, ensuring that the voices of Gaza’s children are not silenced and that their future is one of hope, dignity and peace.
Adham Abu Selmiya writes for Middle East Monitor
