The ongoing conflict in Gaza has taken a devastating toll on children, with over 13,000 killed and more than 25,000 injured, according to UN agencies. An additional 25,000 children have been hospitalized for severe malnutrition, highlighting the profound humanitarian crisis.
James Kariuki, the UK’s Deputy Ambassador to the UN, described Gaza as “the deadliest place in the world to be a child” during a recent briefing to the Security Council. He emphasized that the children of Gaza are innocent victims who did not choose the war but are suffering its most tragic consequences.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that, as of Thursday, more than 40,000 Palestinian bodies had been identified in Gaza, with one-third—approximately 13,319—being children. This data was provided by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also estimated that 25,000 children have been injured in the conflict, based on information collected in collaboration with Gaza’s Health Ministry. Furthermore, nearly 19,000 children have been hospitalized for acute malnutrition between October and December, according to UNICEF data.
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted the dire situation, noting that many children have been separated from their families or orphaned as a result of the war.
The education system in Gaza has been severely disrupted, with an estimated 650,000 school-aged children unable to attend classes. Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director of the UN’s Education Cannot Wait fund, said the destruction of schools and infrastructure will require a complete rebuilding effort.
Diplomats from the UK, France, and other countries also acknowledged the impact on Israeli children, who have been killed, injured, or taken hostage in the October 7 Hamas attack. Some Israeli children are still being held captive.
Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, emphasized the trauma experienced by Israeli children, including the 30 abducted on October 7 and the tens of thousands displaced. He condemned the Security Council’s focus on Gaza, accusing Hamas of using children as human shields and turning Gaza into a “terror base.”
“The children of Gaza could have had a future full of opportunities,” he said. “Instead, they are trapped in a cycle of violence and despair—because of Hamas, not Israel.”
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