In commemoration of the profound suffering in Gaza, the Islamic Republic of Iran has designated a day to honor the Palestinian women and children lost to the war in Gaza.
The nation confronts a humanitarian catastrophe of immense scale, where countless lives have been lost under rubble, and a severe famine now threatens the survivors.
In response, Iran is unified in grief and condemnation, with official statements, media coverage, and public events demanding international action against the genocide.
Mehr 25 (which corresponds to October 17) has been designated as a day to commemorate the genocide of Palestinian children and women.
This day is now a permanent mark on the national calendar. It is a day for the people of Iran to stop and remember. The date was chosen to reflect the deep sadness and anger felt across the nation. It is a day focused on the most innocent victims of the war. The goal is to make sure the world does not forget what is happening.
Over a period of two years, Israeli military operations have resulted in the deaths of around 67,000 Palestinians. Many thousands more individuals remain trapped and deceased beneath the ruins of destroyed buildings.
This number is very hard to understand because it is so large. It is more than the number of people in many small cities. Each person was someone with a family, a home, and a life. The fact that thousands are still under the rubble means that many families cannot even bury their loved ones. This situation makes the grief even heavier for the community. Rescue workers cannot reach them because there is too much damage and not enough equipment.
The number of children who have been killed reaches at least 20,000, which equates to the loss of one child every single hour throughout the last twenty-four months.
Think about one hour passing. In that time, a child in Gaza has died. This has happened every hour, day, and night, for two full years. These children were playing, learning, and sleeping when the war took them. They lost their futures. They lost the chance to grow up. Their deaths have left a huge emptiness in Gaza. A whole generation is being lost. This loss will be felt for many years to come.
According to UNICEF, it is estimated that the number of children in Gaza who have lost one or more of their limbs is between 3,000 and 4,000.
These children survived the bombs, but their lives have been changed forever. Losing an arm or a leg is a terrible injury. These children now need lifelong medical care. They need prosthetics, which are artificial limbs. They need many surgeries. They also need help to learn how to walk or use their hands again. In Gaza, there are very few hospitals left to help them. There is not enough medicine or doctors.
On August 22, a famine was officially confirmed in the Gaza Strip by the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, which is a global monitor for hunger.
A famine means there is not enough food for everyone. People are starving. This famine was not caused by a natural disaster, like a drought. It is a man-made famine. It is caused by the war blocking food, water, and aid from coming into Gaza. The United Nations system is trusted around the world, so its confirmation is a very serious matter. It means the situation is officially recognized as catastrophic.
A minimum of 459 individuals, which includes 154 children, have lost their lives specifically because of starvation.
These people did not die from bombs. They died from hunger. Their bodies became too weak without food. Starvation is a slow and painful death. It is especially tragic for children, who need food to grow. Their bodies are small and need good nutrition. The fact that 154 children have died from hunger shows how broken the food system has become. Parents cannot find food to feed their children.
The rate of malnutrition affecting children has increased at an unprecedented speed. During July, over 12,000 children were diagnosed as acutely malnourished, a figure that is six times greater than the number recorded at the beginning of the year.
Malnutrition means the body does not get the right nutrients to be healthy. Acute malnutrition is very dangerous, especially for young children. Their bodies and brains cannot develop properly. The speed of this increase is shocking. It is much faster than anyone expected. In just one month, thousands of children became sick from a lack of food. This shows how quickly the situation became worse after many months of war.
Close to one out of every four children is now experiencing severe acute malnutrition, and one in every five newborns is delivered either prematurely or with a dangerously low birth weight.
If you see a group of four children in Gaza, one of them is severely malnourished. This child will be very thin, weak, and sick. This is a health emergency for children. For newborn babies, the situation is also very bad. When a pregnant mother is hungry and stressed, it affects her baby. Babies are being born too early. They are also being born too small. This puts their lives at risk right from the start. They may have health problems for their whole lives.
On this occasion, senior Iranian officials issue strong condemnations of the killing of Palestinian women and children. These statements often highlight the humanitarian crisis and call for international accountability.
The officials of Iran are speaking out. They are using strong words to say that these actions are wrong. They call it a genocide and a war crime. They say the world must not stay silent. They demand that other countries and international courts take action. They want the people responsible for the genocide to be held accountable for their actions.
State media dedicate special reports, documentaries, and interviews to raise awareness about the suffering of Palestinian civilians, especially children.
Iranian television and news websites show special programs about Gaza. They show videos and pictures of what is happening there. They make documentaries that tell the stories of Palestinian families. They interview people who can explain the situation. The goal is to make sure every person in Iran understands the depth of the suffering.
In some cities, public gatherings, marches, or symbolic events are organized by cultural and political groups to express support for Palestine and denounce the genocide in Gaza.
Just recently, the 8th International Conference on Solidarity with Palestinian Children and Youths was held in Tehran on October 12, 2025.
Over 100 participants from 32 countries attended the international event held to commemorate Mohammed al-Durrah, a young Palestinian boy, killed by Israeli forces in 2000.
In various ceremonies, Iranians come together in the streets. They hold signs and chant slogans. They carry Palestinian flags. They show the people of Gaza that they are not alone in their pain.
Schools and universities may hold seminars, poster exhibitions, or discussions in the country to inform students about the humanitarian aspects of the conflict and the significance of the day.
Mosques and cultural centers may include prayers or sermons that reflect on the plight of Palestinian families, especially during Friday prayers close to the date.
During religious services, preachers talk about Gaza. They talk about the suffering of the Palestinian people. They ask for God's help and mercy. They pray for peace and for the safety of the children. This brings a spiritual feeling to the day. It connects the political issue to faith and morals. It comforts people and gives them hope.
MNA