UNICEF reports unprecedented child casualties in West Bank

Adele Khodr, UNICEF's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, disclosed that 83 children have been killed in the past twelve weeks alone, more than double the number recorded for the entire year of 2022.

Khodr attributes the sharp increase in child casualties to heightened military and law enforcement operations in the region. Over 576 children have been reported injured, and there are accounts of others being detained. The situation has created a harrowing reality for children in the West Bank, overshadowed by constant fear and grief.

"As the world watches on in horror at the situation in the Gaza Strip, children in the West Bank are experiencing a nightmare of their own. Living with a near-constant feeling of fear and grief is, sadly, all-too-common for children affected," stated Khodr.

Many children, she noted, now live with the daily fear of walking to school or playing outside due to the looming threat of shootings and conflict-related violence. UNICEF expresses extreme concern over the safety and protection of children in the West Bank, emphasizing their inherent right to life.

Khodr highlighted the longstanding violence experienced by children in these territories, stressing that the intensity has dramatically increased since October 7. The toll on children is evident, with 124 Palestinian children and six Israeli children killed in conflict-related violence since the start of 2023.

"Grave violations against children, in particular killing and maiming, are unacceptable," declared Khodr, urging all parties to adhere to international human rights law and prioritize the protection of children from conflict-related violence.

"Children should never be the target of violence, no matter who or where they are. An end to recurring violence is the best way to ensure children can grow up in peace and safety. The suffering of children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, must not fade into the background of the current conflict – it is part of it," she concluded. (ILKHA)