• International doctors report disturbing gunshot wounds in Gaza's children.
• Evidence suggests deliberate targeting of minors by Israeli forces.
• Over 20,000 children reportedly killed in Gaza since October 2023.
• Medical professionals face moral dilemmas while documenting injuries.
• Forensic analysis indicates systematic sniper and drone attacks.

International doctors stationed in Gaza have documented a troubling pattern of gunshot wounds among children, raising serious concerns about deliberate targeting. According to an investigation by the Dutch daily de Volkskrant, 15 out of 17 physicians reported that they treated at least 114 children aged 15 or younger who suffered gunshot wounds to the head or chest, with many fatalities recorded. The doctors, hailing from countries including the US, UK, Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, worked in various medical facilities between late 2023 and mid-2025, where they observed these alarming cases, according to TRT Global and Anadolu Agency.

Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon from the US, recounted his harrowing experiences in the European Hospital in Gaza, where he treated multiple children with identical head wounds in a short span. His initial assumption that such cases were anomalies shifted dramatically as he documented further instances with other medical staff. "This is targeted fire. Someone is pulling a trigger on a child," he stated, highlighting the deliberate nature of the injuries, according to Al Jazeera and TRT Global.

Medical experts believe the uniformity of the injuries suggests they are not accidental, but rather indicative of aimed fire from snipers or drones. Forensic specialists echoed these findings, indicating the wounds are consistent with targeted assaults rather than collateral damage from bombings. This corroboration amplifies claims that children have been purposefully targeted during conflicts, as emphasized by Dr. Mimi Syed, who referred to these actions as "war crimes," according to Anadolu Agency and Al Jazeera.

Amidst these harrowing accounts, many medical practitioners face a profound moral dilemma: the fear of retribution or being banned from returning to Gaza if they speak out against the violence they witness. Notably, the UN has reported that Israel has denied entry to over 100 international health workers without explanation since March 2025, putting additional pressure on healthcare professionals to remain silent about these findings, according to Anadolu Agency and TRT Global.

As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, reports indicate that nearly 20,000 children have been killed since the onset of conflict on October 7, 2023, with further estimations suggesting daily fatalities and thousands incapacitated. This raises critical questions regarding the ongoing military strategies employed in populated areas, contributing to claims of potential genocide against Gaza's children, as outlined by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and further documented by various human rights organizations, as cited in Al Jazeera.