More than 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said. "That means about one girl or boy is killed every day during a ceasefire," UNICEF spokesman James Elder said during a video conference from Gaza. He added that the ceasefire is not complete and civilians are still at risk.
Most of these deaths, according to Elder, have been caused by Israeli military attacks, including airstrikes, drone strikes, tank shelling and direct fire, as well as unexploded ordnance. He stressed that children face extremely difficult humanitarian conditions, with a lack of basic services and assistance, and a severely weakened health system. The real number of victims may be higher due to difficulties in documenting cases in some areas of the Gaza Strip.
“Two years of war have made life extremely difficult for the children of Gaza,” said Elder, warning that Gaza remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for children. He called for the protection of civilians and for the unhindered entry of humanitarian aid. “A ceasefire that slows the bombing is progress, but one that continues to bury children is not enough,” the spokesman concluded. As of 7 October 2023, the conflicts have left an estimated 243,000 Palestinians dead or injured, the majority of whom are children and women, with over 11,000 missing. Hundreds of thousands have been displaced, while hunger and devastation have claimed lives in many cities and areas of the Gaza Strip.
