Israel has killed nearly 19,000 children in Gaza war
At least 18,885 children are among the more than 62,000 Palestinians killed by Israel since the start of its genocidal war in Gaza nearly two years ago, Gaza’s Government Media Office has said.
The figures, described by humanitarian agencies as catastrophic, highlight the unprecedented scale of civilian suffering in the enclave. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) warned this week that Gaza has become unlivable for children, with starvation, disease, and constant bombardment leaving families with nowhere to turn for safety.
“Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought protection in UN-run schools and facilities, yet even these shelters have been repeatedly struck in Israeli air raids,” UNRWA said in a statement. “What should be safe havens have instead turned into places of death, including for too many children. No place is safe for children in Gaza. Ceasefire now.”
The crisis has been compounded by Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, which has severely restricted the entry of food, clean water, medicine, and fuel. International aid groups say the blockade has created conditions of “deliberate starvation,” particularly among Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable.
Citing UNICEF, UNRWA noted that in the past five months alone—since Israel abandoned a brief ceasefire agreement and resumed large-scale attacks—an average of more than 540 children have been killed every month. Aid agencies warn that beyond the immediate death toll, tens of thousands more children face life-threatening malnutrition and trauma.
Human rights groups and UN officials have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire, warning that the continued destruction of civilian infrastructure and denial of aid may amount to war crimes. Despite these calls, the war shows no sign of ending, with Israel insisting its operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas, while the civilian death toll continues to rise at an alarming pace.
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