Statement on the killing of brothers, Khaled and Aseed, two children supported through Save the Children's programme in Gaza

GAZA, 8 September 2025 – Rachael Cummings, Save the Children Humanitarian Director in Gaza said:

"All of us at Save the Children are devastated by the killing of brothers Khaled, 11, and Aseed, 8, who we’ve been supporting through one of our child-friendly spaces in Gaza. Khaled and Aseed were known for their positive energy, for joining in and getting involved, and for the way they made friends and played with others, even amid their relentless surroundings of bombardment and violence, displacement, hunger and disease.

"In July, an Israeli airstrike hit the tent they were calling home, killing everyone else in their immediate family and severely injuring Khaled and Aseed. In August, Khaled’s health condition from his injuries deteriorated and he died. Just 48 hours later, Aseed’s health also worsened, and he too passed away in a health system that has been shattered by bombs and throttled by siege.

"Nothing can bring these boys back. As with more than 20,000 other children killed in the last two years, their lives were cut short before they could see an end to the violence, or accountability for these crimes. Every single child – every life taken and every life still hanging in the balance – is a reminder of the world’s collective failure. The cost of inaction is children’s lives. How many more will have to pay it?"