According to Gaza's health ministry, which Hamas controls, about 73,000 people have died, and roughly 20,000 of them are under 18.
Nearly half of Gaza's population is children, about 47 percent of roughly 2.1 million. Children make up about 30 percent of the identified dead. Adult men are about a quarter of the population but nearly half of the dead, and about 2.7 men have been killed for every woman.
The ministry does not separate civilians from fighters, so the numbers do not say who was who. But the distribution is not random. Hamas also uses teenagers as soldiers, and the UN has reported the recruitment of minors.
Hamas built a large tunnel network for its own fighters and weapons. Tunnels have been found under and beside hospitals, schools and a UN building.
No comparable protection was built for the civilians above. Fighting from civilian areas and placing military infrastructure among civilians violates the laws of war and puts children at risk. The responsibility for that lies with Hamas.
Israel warns civilians and tries to limit casualties. In war, civilians die, children among them, and when children are nearly half of a population, they will unfortunately be among the victims.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 without warning, at a time when there was no war. They killed about 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages. After four wars since 2007, it was foreseeable that Israel would answer with military force and that Gaza would be hit hard. Hamas chose the attack anyway.
Hamas won the 2006 parliamentary election with about 44 percent of the vote. In 2007, Hamas took control of Gaza by force from Fatah and has held power without elections ever since. Most of Gaza's residents today were children or not yet born in 2006.
Anyone who calls every person who adds nuance a child murderer knows that is untrue. And anyone who celebrates October 7, or defends Hamas and what it started, has sided with the people who have done the Palestinians the most harm.
Mourn the children. Name Hamas.