DaysofPal— The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has described the US-sponsored ceasefire in Gaza as a “deadly illusion” for Palestinian children, highlighting continued Israeli bombing and mounting casualties despite the truce.
Speaking from the Jordanian capital Amman, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said during remarks presented at a press conference in Geneva on Friday that the ceasefire has failed to provide real protection for children in the Gaza Strip.
“For many long months, the world has been told there is a ceasefire in Gaza,” Elder said.
“But for Palestinian children, this so-called ceasefire has become a cruel and deadly illusion.” He added.
According to UNICEF, at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed across Gaza by Israeli attacks since the ceasefire was announced in October 2025.
Elder described the figure as absurd and heartbreaking, warning that it undermines the credibility of the ceasefire.
He noted that while a small number of deaths were caused by unexploded ordnance, the majority of children were killed in Israeli airstrikes, bombings, or drone attacks.
UNICEF also reported that more than 400 children have been injured during the same period, many of them critically.
Elder stressed that the international community must not normalize such levels of child mortality.
“We must stop accepting levels of infant deaths that would spark outrage anywhere else,” he said.
“We cannot normalize what is not normal.” He added.
The organization further warned that hundreds of injured children urgently require medical evacuation for treatment, as restrictions on essential medicines continue to exacerbate suffering.
Many injured children face heightened risks of infection, complications, and even repeat amputations due to limited medical resources.
According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 992 people have been killed in the territory as of mid-June amid ongoing hostilities.
UNICEF reiterated its call for stronger protections for civilians, particularly children, and emphasized the urgent need to ensure safe access to medical care and humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
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