“Nothing justifies the killing of children,” the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said on Friday, as Israeli attacks on Gaza intensified further.

Recalling that at least 100 children are reported killed or injured every day in Gaza, since the Israeli attacks resumed on 18 March, Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X: “The resumption of the war is again robbing them of their childhood. The war has turned Gaza into a ‘no land’ for children.”

“This is a stain on our common humanity. Nothing justifies the killing of children wherever they are,” he added.

Lazzarini repeated the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

A report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday said Israel has killed nearly 17,954 children in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. The toll includes 274 newborns, 876 infants under 1 year old, 17 children who froze to death in displacement tents, and 52 who died from starvation and malnutrition.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to escalate attacks as efforts proceed to implement US President Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza.

More than 50,600 Palestinians have been killed in the enclave since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its conduct in Gaza.

The protest began on Friday as Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman was presenting product updates and a long-term vision for the company’s AI assistant product, Copilot, to an audience that included Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and former CEO Steve Ballmer.

“Mustafa, shame on you,” shouted Microsoft employee Ibtihal Aboussad as she walked towards the stage and Suleyman paused his speech.

“You claim that you care about using AI for good but Microsoft sells AI weapons to the Israeli military. Fifty-thousand people have died and Microsoft powers this genocide in our region.”

“Thank you for your protest, I hear you,” Suleyman said.

Aboussad continued, shouting that Suleyman and “all of Microsoft” had blood on their hands. She also threw onto the stage a keffiyeh scarf, which has become a symbol of support for Palestinian people, before being escorted out of the event.

An investigation by The Associated Press news agency revealed earlier this year that AI models from Microsoft and OpenAI were used as part of an Israeli military programme to select bombing targets during its wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

A second protester, Microsoft employee Vaniya Agrawal, interrupted another part of the celebration during which Gates, Ballmer and current CEO Satya Nadella were on stage – the first public gathering since 2014 of the three men who have been Microsoft’s CEO.

In February, five Microsoft employees were ejected from a meeting with Nadella for protesting against the contracts.

While the February event was an internal meeting, Friday’s protest was far more public – a livestreamed showcase of the company’s past and future. Some employees also rallied outside the event on Friday.

“We provide many avenues for all voices to be heard,” said a statement from the company.

“Importantly, we ask that this be done in a way that does not cause a business disruption. If that happens, we ask participants to relocate. We are committed to ensuring our business practices uphold the highest standards.”

Various other firms and educational institutions have also faced protests over their ties with Israel as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza from Israel’s military assault has mounted.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 50,600 Palestinians are confirmed dead and 115,000 wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza. The enclave’s Government Media Office updated its death toll to more than 61,700, saying thousands of people missing under the rubble are presumed dead.