DaysofPal- The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip continue to face deadly violence despite the ceasefire announced with Israel more than eight months ago, describing the truce as a “cruel and deadly illusion” that has failed to provide meaningful protection.
Speaking in Geneva on Friday, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said Israeli forces have killed at least 265 Palestinian children since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, averaging one child death every day during a period that was supposed to be marked by restraint and civilian protection.
Growing Toll of Death, Injury and Trauma Among Gaza’s Children
“During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months,” Elder told reporters, arguing that the continued loss of young lives exposes the failure of the ceasefire to safeguard children in Gaza.
He stressed that Palestinian families continue to bury their children while the international community speaks of a ceasefire, noting that children have been killed in homes, schools, public spaces, and while carrying out everyday activities such as playing football or fishing.
Elder cited several recent cases, including the killing of a two-year-old boy who was reportedly shot by Israeli occupation forces, a 13-year-old boy killed inside his tent, and a five-year-old child who died alongside his father in an Israeli strike.
Beyond the fatalities, UNICEF reported that more than 400 children have been wounded since October, many suffering severe and life-altering injuries. Elder warned that the consequences extend far beyond those killed, with many injured children facing catastrophic wounds and long-term disabilities.
Referring to the ongoing expansion of Israeli-designated military boundaries inside Gaza, Elder said civilians risk being shot even when they are not directly engaged in hostilities. He highlighted incidents involving a 12-year-old girl reportedly shot in the chest while inside her tent and a three-year-old girl struck in the face by gunfire from a quadcopter drone while at home.
UNICEF also expressed alarm over the deteriorating healthcare situation in Gaza, warning that hundreds of injured children urgently require medical evacuation. The agency said restrictions on the entry of essential medicines and medical supplies are increasing the risk of infections, complications, and amputations among wounded patients.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that Israel’s blockade and military restrictions have left Gaza’s healthcare system struggling to function after months of war. Hospitals continue to face severe shortages of medicine, fuel, medical equipment, and staff, limiting their ability to treat the growing number of casualties.
Elder further emphasized the psychological impact of the conflict on Gaza’s children, saying that fear, loss, and violence have become a constant feature of daily life.
“For Gaza’s children, fear, loss and violence have become so constant that trauma is no longer an episode in their lives—it is woven into the very fabric of their childhood,” he said.
Calling for urgent international action, Elder urged governments and global institutions to uphold international law and address the continued killing of children. “No ceasefire can be considered meaningful while children continue to be killed,” he said.
UNICEF’s warning came as an Israeli air strike reportedly hit a tent sheltering displaced families in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, injuring at least five people, according to Palestinian sources.
Palestinian health authorities said Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza has killed at least 73,018 Palestinians and wounded 173,273 others since October 7, 2023. They added that since the ceasefire entered into effect on October 11, Israeli attacks have killed 1,007 people and injured 3,165, while rescue teams have recovered hundreds of additional bodies from previously inaccessible areas.
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