UNICEF: Average One Palestinian Child Killed Daily in Gaza Despite Ceasefire
Elis Gjevori
UNICEF reports that since October 2025, at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza, averaging one child per day despite a ceasefire. The agency calls the ceasefire a 'cruel and deadly illusion,' noting children are killed in homes, schools, and public spaces.
UNICEF stated on June 27 that, on average, one Palestinian child has been killed daily in Gaza for over eight months, since a ceasefire with Israel was declared in October 2025. The agency described the ceasefire as a 'cruel and deadly illusion' as Israel continues to attack the besieged territory.
According to UNICEF, at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed since October 2025. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters in Geneva: 'During a period supposedly of restraint and protection, an average of one child has been killed every day for more than eight months.' He argued that these successive deaths highlight the meaninglessness of a ceasefire that fails to protect Palestinian children from Israeli fire.
Elder emphasized: 'While the world still talks about a ceasefire, families in Gaza continue to bury their sons and daughters.' He cited examples of children killed in homes, schools, and public spaces, even while playing football or fishing. Specifically, this week a 2-year-old boy was shot dead by Israeli forces, a 13-year-old boy was shot dead in a tent, and a 5-year-old boy and his father died in an Israeli airstrike.
UNICEF also recorded more than 400 children injured since October, many with severe wounds. Elder said: 'You sneeze near the Orange line and you might be shot,' referring to Israel's gradual expansion of its occupation boundaries. He cited recent cases: a 12-year-old girl was shot in the chest in a tent, and a 3-year-old was shot in the face by drone fire while at home.
Aid workers said Israel's blockade and military restrictions have trapped children within a crumbling healthcare system, where hospitals lack medicine, fuel, staff, and equipment after months of siege and shelling. Elder warned that hundreds of children need urgent medical evacuation, while Israeli restrictions on essential medicines are increasing the risk of infections, complications, and amputations.
Elder called: 'No ceasefire can be considered meaningful when children continue to be killed.' He also mentioned Lebanon, where UNICEF said 247 children have been killed and 992 injured since the conflict escalated on March 2, 2026.
On the same day, an Israeli airstrike targeted tents sheltering displaced families in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, wounding at least five people. Palestinian health authorities said Israel's genocidal war in Gaza has killed at least 73,018 Palestinians and wounded 173,273 since October 7, 2023. Since the ceasefire took effect on October 11, Israeli attacks have killed 1,007 people and wounded 3,165, while rescue teams have recovered 784 bodies from previously inaccessible areas.
