UNICEF says 350 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire was announced

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said that 350 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire was announced in 2025. The agency called on Israeli authorities to take immediate and decisive action to protect children, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law.

The statement was issued by Edward Beigbeder, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. UNICEF said that seven children were killed and 19 others injured in just six days across the Gaza Strip, and that these are part of the total of 350. The statement does not say how UNICEF counted the deaths or who carried out each attack. The source contains no response from Israeli authorities.

UNICEF listed what it says Israel's obligations include. They are to respect the principles of distinction and proportionality, to take precautions in all attacks, to make every effort to avoid or minimise harm to civilians, and to ensure that children receive the special protection that international humanitarian law gives them.

Beigbeder also asked Israeli authorities to ensure transparent and rigorous accountability in cases where children are killed, or injured so badly that they are left with permanent disabilities. He asked for effective measures to deter further violence.

UNICEF described several recent cases. Mohammed, aged 14, was killed as he walked home from a UNICEF-supported learning centre in Deir al-Balah. According to reports cited by UNICEF, an armed drone struck him in the street. UNICEF said his school bag was left lying beside his body.

The next day, a six-year-old girl, Misk, was reportedly killed by gunfire at her home in Maghazi. UNICEF said she was a first-grade pupil at one of its learning centres. Later that day, Tamer, aged 12, was shot while he was on the rubble of his home in the Beit Lahia area.

UNICEF also said that Bara, aged 14, was killed by tank fire in northern Nuseirat. It said that early on the day of the statement a shell hit a school where families were sheltering and injured two children.

Beigbeder said the level of violence against children is unacceptable. UNICEF said that children who survive attacks face added obstacles to physical and psychological recovery because Gaza's health system has collapsed. Beigbeder said that any ceasefire agreement that does not protect children is one that has failed them.

The same UN News report covered a separate matter in the West Bank. Ramiz Alakbarov, the acting UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, visited Jenin with diplomats from 13 countries. The aim was to see the problems of the olive harvest and the long-term displacement of Palestinian communities. Alakbarov said that many Palestinians are prevented from gathering their crops safely. He called on Israeli authorities to hold those responsible to account and urged them to allow displaced Palestinians to return safely. He also said that humanitarian organisations need more funding to help displaced Palestinians.