Israel’s ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, recently stated that children have "never" been targeted in Gaza and placed the blame for civilian deaths squarely on Hamas. This claim came during an interview where she was pressed about the high number of innocent casualties amid ongoing violence.
Hotovely’s comments followed a report by two British surgeons who have worked in Gaza during the recent Israeli bombardment. They shared their experiences through video blogs, highlighting the severe impact on civilians, especially children. When asked how many children it would be acceptable to kill in the pursuit of Hamas militants, Hotovely insisted that Israel does not aim to harm civilians and that its military actions comply with international law.
The ambassador emphasized that Israel is not interested in causing harm and urged the international community to pressure Hamas to release hostages taken during the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, primarily civilians. She argued that Hamas’s actions, including using civilians as human shields, are to blame for the current situation.
Dr. Victoria Rose, one of the surgeons who treated victims in Gaza, expressed her horror at the number of injured children, stating that the situation is "barbaric." She noted that the number of children injured or killed far exceeds the number of Hamas fighters targeted.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s retaliatory actions have resulted in over 55,000 Palestinian deaths, with women and children making up a significant portion of those killed. However, this source does not differentiate between combatants and non-combatants.
Hotovely reiterated that Israel’s focus is on protecting its citizens and called for a ceasefire contingent on the release of hostages. She insists that the root of the violence lies with Hamas and their actions against Israel.