Teddy Bear memorial honours 15,000 Gaza children killed since Oct 7

In a poignant tribute, an artist, named Bachir Mohamad, has created a memorial in Qatar's Doha using 15,000 teddy bears to represent the children killed in Gaza since Israel's bombardment began in October 2023.

"It's a representation of how art and compassion can interest in order to create a positive impact. In order to show people that numbers can be seen by eyes," he said while talking to Al-Jazeera.

The installation, made from toys and 7kg blocks of concrete, symbolises the rubble falling over children's heads in Gaza. 

"I know that the number of the items over here that you can see it or the art sculptures is really big. But however, this is nothing in comparison to what's happening nowadays in Palestine and especially in Gaza," the 41-year-old artist said.

Mohamad's goal is to raise awareness and funds for the affected children in the besieged enclave.

"As an artist, this is how I can at least help in order to raise some funds that are fully going to 100% of the proceeds are going actaullly for the children of Gaza through Qatar charity."

Mohamad believed that Palestine is an "international language as it is about humanity".

"It's very important to know that Palestine is an international language. It's no longer an Arab or an Islamic language because this is mainly more about humanity to free Palestine from this genocide happening because of the Israeli occupation and to save the children who are the future of our future."

Over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives, including 16,456 children and 11,000 women in Israeli military offensives in Gaza since October 7.

Almost 95,497 have been injured in Israel’s war on Gaza for eleven months.

The United Nations (UN) reported that two-thirds of buildings across the Gaza Strip have been "damaged or destroyed." Israeli attacks have also killed at least 270 aid workers.

The restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies have exacerbated the situation in Gaza.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) directed Israel to ensure basic services and humanitarian aid delivery in the besieged enclave.

The Palestinian government's information office reported that almost 1.7 million Gazans have been displaced due to relentless air and artillery strikes by the Israeli military.

Thousands of children in Gaza have been diagnosed with malnutrition, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Earlier, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) head Cindy McCain said people in Gaza are starving to death.

The WFP estimated that around 1.1 million people are "struggling with catastrophic hunger and starvation" due to Israel's severe restrictions on food, water, medicine, and fuel supplies to the besieged enclave.