Gaza's children bear brunt of Israel's attack

The charity said that as of today morning seven children had been killed and over 100 hurt, though those figures are both likely to rise rapidly.

Twenty-five schools, two clinics and a hospital have been damaged in Gaza, while schools on both sides of the border are closed.

Osama Damo, part of Save the Children's team in Gaza, said: "It is a dangerous and terrifying time for children, who make up nearly half the population of the Gaza Strip.

"Most families have been trapped at home for four days, unable to leave to find basic supplies.

"With so many children already malnourished and suffering from anaemia, the impact on children's health is potentially devastating."

The charity pointed out that the five-year Israeli blockade meant conditions were already "very difficult" for children.

Save the Children's Mark Buttle said: "The situation is pretty dire. There a lot of people living in a very small area, half are children.

"What worries us is approximately a third of reported injuries are now children.

"Many of these children will be traumatised for a numbers of years because of this."

Save the Children is one of 38 charities which have demanded an immediate ceasefire and access for humanitarian aid.

Oxfam's Nishant Pandey said: "World leaders cannot sit by while civilian casualties in Gaza and Israel continue to mount. We urgently need to enforce a ceasefire.

"The present conflict threatens to perpetuate and worsen the humanitarian impact on Palestinian civilians in Gaza of over five years of Israeli blockade and the 2008-09 Israeli military Operation Cast Lead."