UNICEF: 265 Palestinian Children Killed Since Gaza Ceasefire Declared

The UN children’s agency UNICEF has reported that at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since a ceasefire was declared in October 2025, describing the truce as a ‘deadly illusion’. Speaking to journalists in Geneva on Friday, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said that despite the announced cessation of hostilities, violence has persisted, with an average of one child killed every day for more than eight months. ‘In a period that should have been marked by restraint and protection, we have seen the opposite,’ Elder stated, questioning whether the situation can truly be called a ceasefire when children continue to lose their lives. ‘While the world continues to talk about a ceasefire, families in Gaza are still burying their sons and daughters.’ He detailed that children have been killed in their homes, schools, and public spaces, including while playing football or fishing. ‘This week, a two-year-old boy was shot dead by Israeli forces. A 13-year-old boy was shot dead inside his tent. A five-year-old boy and his father were killed in an Israeli attack, and the list goes on,’ Elder said. Beyond the fatalities, UNICEF reported that more than 400 children have been wounded since October, many suffering severe injuries. Elder cited the case of a 12-year-old girl shot in the chest while inside a tent, and a three-year-old girl shot in the face by a bullet from a quadcopter drone while at home. He warned that hundreds of children require urgent medical evacuation and that restrictions on essential medical supplies are increasing the risk of infection, complications, and amputations for injured children. Elder also highlighted the profound psychological toll, stating that for Gaza’s children, ‘fear, loss, and violence have become so constant that trauma is no longer just an episode in their lives, but has become fused with their childhood.’ He urged governments and international bodies to act, arguing that the continued killing of children during a supposed ceasefire should be a matter of grave concern for those committed to upholding international law. Elder also noted the situation in Lebanon, where UNICEF has recorded 247 children killed and 992 injured since the escalation of hostilities on 2 March. ‘No ceasefire can be considered meaningful while children continue to be killed,’ he concluded.