Over 50,000 Children Reportedly Killed or Injured in Gaza Strip Since October 2023

Recent reports from United Nations agencies highlight the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on children, with over 50,000 children reportedly killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023. This grim statistic underscores the severe humanitarian crisis, drawing sharp international criticism and calls for protection of minors in the region. The issue has also been a subject of public discussion, with social media posts, such as one from user Warren Redlich, accusing Israel of killing children and linking to a video.

UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder, stated in May 2025, that the situation presents "unimaginable horrors," citing incidents like burnt and dismembered children being pulled from rubble. Since the end of a ceasefire on March 18, 2025, an additional 1,309 children have reportedly been killed and 3,738 injured in Gaza. Beigbeder emphasized that these lives "should never be reduced to numbers" and called for immediate, collective action to end the violence.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and UNICEF data further reveal that between October 7, 2023, and November 3, 2025, at least 215 children were killed in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. A UNICEF report from July 2024 indicated a nearly 250 percent spike in Palestinian child fatalities in the West Bank since October 2023, with 143 children killed in nine months. Two Israeli children were also killed in conflict-related violence in the West Bank during the same period.

Beyond direct casualties, children in Gaza face immense suffering, including starvation, constant displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure like hospitals and schools. UNICEF has repeatedly urged all parties to the conflict to cease hostilities, protect civilians, respect international humanitarian law, and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid. The agency also highlighted that some 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated, with many experiencing severe psychological distress and sleep disturbances.

The dire conditions have led to a collapse of the healthcare system, with many children requiring advanced medical care unavailable in Gaza. UNICEF continues to advocate for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and safe passage for humanitarian relief to address the catastrophic impact on children, who are disproportionately affected by the prolonged conflict.