Since the ceasefire declared in October 2025, 351 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The agency has called on Israeli authorities to take urgent measures to protect children and ensure accountability for those harmed.

Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, highlighted that in the past six days alone, eight children have died and 20 others were injured. He emphasized the need for Israel to uphold international humanitarian law, particularly the principles of distinction, which require parties to differentiate between combatants and civilians during hostilities.

Beigbeder described the ongoing violence against children as "unacceptable," noting that survivors face significant obstacles to physical and psychological recovery due to the collapse of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. UNICEF has also reported that roughly 800,000 children in Gaza remain displaced, with an estimated 60,000 having lost one or both parents since the conflict erupted.

The agency stressed that nearly all children in the territory require mental health support amid persistent displacement and the degradation of essential services. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with limited access to adequate medical care, nutrition, and psychological assistance.

Meanwhile, continued hostilities have resulted in further casualties. On Friday, an Israeli airstrike targeted the Al-Nasr neighborhood in western Gaza City, striking near the home of the Al-Ramli family. The attack killed two Palestinians and injured others, according to local sources.

UNICEF’s calls for increased protection of children come amid ongoing violence and political tensions in the region. The organization has urged Israel to ensure transparent investigations into incidents involving child casualties and to implement measures that prevent further harm to civilians.