BBC News Investigates Child Killings in Gaza War

Investigation into Child Fatalities in Gaza

• 💔 The BBC World Service has compiled material on over 160 cases of children allegedly shot in Gaza, with 95 instances of children being shot in the head or chest.
• 👶 In the majority of these cases, the victims were under 12 years old, with the reported incidents spanning from the early weeks of the war up to July 2025.
• 🚨 The International Committee of the Red Cross has stated that the current warfare, allowing so many children to be shot, cannot be accepted as a "new normal."

Case Study: Leanne and Muhammad Al Dawi

• 🔍 The report details the case of 2-year-old Leanne and her father, Muhammad Al Dawi, whose deaths were initially unconfirmed.
• 🏃 Leanne's sister, Shahed, recounts fleeing bombing and witnessing a tank at a junction, after which her father and sister were shot.
• 📍 Satellite imagery and military expert analysis suggest the presence of an IDF fortified position along the street where the incident occurred.

IDF Response and Soldier Allegations

• ⚠️ The IDF stated that soldiers operate in complex urban environments and unintended harm may occur, adding that Leanne's case details have been recorded for examination.
• 🗣️ A former IDF soldier described incidents where his unit was ordered to shoot unarmed individuals, including teenagers, and acknowledged a lack of accountability.
• ⚖️ An international law professor reviewed the findings and indicated that the available evidence points towards a serious violation of law, potentially a war crime.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Leanne and Muhammad's remains lay on the street for days, with their family unaware of the video's existence until contacted over a year later.