Israel ‘bans’ ad listing names of children killed in Gaza

An Israel media regulator has banned this week a radio advert from a human rights group that lists the names of some Palestinian children that were killed during the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

The ad launched by pro-Palestinian human rights group B’Tselem was dubbed “politically controversial” by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (IBA), according to Russia Today.

B’Tselem was outraged at the decision and has appealed to a top Israeli court in a bid to overturn the ban.

“Is it controversial that the children [aren't] alive? That they're children? That those are their names? These are facts that we wish to bring to the public's knowledge," the human rights group wrote in its appeal, according to Russia Today.

“So far more than 600 people have been killed in bombings in Gaza, more than 150 of them children. But apart from a brief report on the number of fatalities, the Israeli media refrains from covering them.

“IBA says broadcasting the children's names is politically controversial. But refusing to do so is in itself a far-reaching statement – it says the huge price being paid by civilians in Gaza, many of them children, must be censored.”

More than 800 Palestinians have been killed so far since Israel launched an offensive against the Gaza Strip earlier this month.

Israel claims the assault is aimed at destroying tunnels used by the Islamist Hamas group to threaten its security.

However, several attacks appeared to have targeted civilian residential areas and United Nations’ schools.

The banned advert, which was announcing the names of some Palestinian child victims, has been shared later on social media.