PARAÑAQUE, Philippines — At least 21 Israeli children from 13 families had parents murdered during Hamas’s terrorist onslaught that began on Oct. 7, the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs revealed on Sunday.
Child welfare workers established that 16 children lost both parents, while two children of single mothers were orphaned. Two children had one parent murdered and one still missing.
In one case, one parent was murdered, and the other was taken as a hostage to the Gaza Strip.
“Social workers have established contact with the families of the orphans and will provide them and their guardians with all the resources necessary,” said the Welfare Ministry on Sunday.
“It was important for us to reach the children who were left without a father and mother as quickly as possible, to check that they are in a safe place, to help the family members who are currently taking care of them, and to assure them that the State of Israel is with them and will continue to support and accompany them in the future,” said Eti Kisos, a senior official in the ministry.
Hamas terrorists killed 1,400 Israelis and wounded more than 5,400 in a massive offensive launched from the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, which included the firing of thousands of rockets at Israel and the infiltration of the Jewish state by terrorist forces.
As of Sunday, there are 302 people hospitalized for their injuries, of whom 43 are seriously wounded, 172 moderately wounded and 87 lightly wounded, according to Health Ministry data.
On Sunday afternoon, an Israeli man in his 60s sustained serious wounds as a result of a rocket impact in the southern city of Netivot, the Magen David Adom emergency medical service said. He was taken to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.
“Terrorist groups have fired more than 7,400 rockets into Israel since Oct. 7”, said a government official on Sunday.
According to figures provided by the Government Press Office, the Iron Dome air-defense system intercepted more than 1,100 rockets. Some 550 misfired and struck inside Gaza, and over 400 scored hits inside Israel.
The figures did not account for several thousand rockets that struck open areas, The Times of Israel noted, adding that the Israel Defense Forces has not provided data on rocket launches since the start of the war.
In response to Hamas’s incessant attacks, the IDF is conducting wide-scale strikes on strategic facilities belonging to the terrorist group.
“On Sunday evening, an Israeli tank accidentally shelled an Egyptian military post near Kerem Shalom in the southern Gaza Strip,” said the IDF in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The military said it “expresses sorrow regarding the incident” and promised to open an investigation.
Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate
Edited by Othieno B and Newsdesk Manager
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