UNICEF: 351 Children Killed in Gaza Since October 2025 Ceasefire
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced that the number of children martyred in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire was declared in October 2025 has reached 351. The report is based on data published by Al Mayadeen, cited by the Mehr News Agency.
Edward Begbyder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, issued a statement calling on Israeli authorities to ensure transparent and serious accountability for cases of child fatalities or injuries leading to permanent disabilities. He noted that in the past six days alone, eight children were martyred and 20 others were injured. Begbyder urged for effective measures to prevent the continuation of violence, adherence to the principle of distinction, and the guarantee of special protection for children in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Begbyder described the level of violence against children as unacceptable, stating that even children who survive attacks face greater obstacles to physical and psychological recovery due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. UNICEF had previously reported that approximately 800,000 children in Gaza remain displaced, and an estimated 60,000 children have lost one or both parents during the conflict or since the ceasefire announcement. The organization also emphasized that nearly all children in Gaza require psychological support amidst ongoing displacement and deteriorating essential services.
In a related development, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territories has stated that Israeli officials and security forces have intentionally targeted Palestinian children. The commission described these actions as amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Gaza, as well as war crimes in the West Bank.
