“The bombs started just a few seconds after the ceasefire (ended),” – James Elder from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Campaigners will again take to the steps of St Magnus Cathedral Kirkwall today, Saturday 2nd of December, calling for an immediate ending to the “ongoing war on children” in Gaza.

After a  pause in the bombardment of Gaza by Israeli forces that allowed the delivery of desperately needed fuel, food and water, the violence returned.

Gaza’s health authorities have reported more than 15,000 fatalities since the Israeli strikes began, with thousands of children believed buried under the rubble. The conflict has also created around 1,000 child amputees in recent weeks.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, expressed deep concern at declarations by Israeli political and military leaders “planning to expand and intensify the military offensive”.

“The resumption of hostilities in Gaza is catastrophic,” the UN rights chief said, before urging all parties and States with influence over the warring sides “to redouble efforts, immediately, to ensure a ceasefire – on humanitarian and human rights grounds”.

The “full respect and protection of the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis” remain critically important, Mr. Türk stressed, before calling for an immediate end to the violence and the prompt and unconditional release of all remaining hostages.

He said civilians must be protected in line with international humanitarian law, appealing to Israel “as the occupying power…to ensure that the basic needs of the population in Gaza, such as food, water, and medical care, are met. I remind all parties of their obligation to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief for civilians in need, throughout Gaza.”

To date, more than 6,200 children have died, over 4,000 women and roughly 4,850 men, with over 36,000 injured, in Gaza.

The World Health Organisation’s Senior Emergency Officer  Rob Holden described one small hospital –  “bodies are lined up in the car park outside (and) the floor is just awash with blood.”

“The supplies are just not enough. There have been major problems of getting supplies to the north of Gaza as well…as you drive into the hospital, you are met with bodies deceased who’ve died either on arrival at the hospital or during their stay at the hospital, lined up outside, waiting for family members to come and identify them.”

Speaking from Gaza, the WHO official explained that doctors, nurses, lab technicians and engineers “who keep the machinery running, the generators are running” were working 22-hour days “just to give the most basic level of service”.

Fiona Grahame