The orphaned children of the Gaza Strip released balloons carrying their cries for help as they pleaded to the international community to help end the 12-year blockade of Gaza, near Beit Hanoun's 'Erez' crossing, on Sunday.

The protest which was organized by Hamas, saw children of parents killed by Israeli forces marching with banners and messages tied to their colorful balloons before they released them into the sky.

"The charity institutions have become unable to provide aid to this important group of people [children]," said spokesperson of charity institutions in Gaza Ramez al-Gebawi.

"My message to the world is that we need to have an income and it is our right to have education. Also, we need to have stability in our country without occupation to besiege us," added another orphan, whose father was killed during the Israeli-Gaza conflict of 2008.