UNICEF: 60,000 Gaza Children Have Lost One or Both Parents

Gaza, MINA – An estimated 60,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip have lost one or both parents during Israel’s war or since the ceasefire took effect, while nearly every child in the territory needs some form of mental health support, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday.

UNICEF spokesperson Ricardo Pires told reporters in Geneva that more than 340 children in Gaza had been killed and hundreds injured since the ceasefire agreement was announced on October 10, 2025.

Over the past two weeks alone, seven children, five boys and two girls which were reported killed, while at least 33 children sustained serious injuries in airstrikes, drone strikes, and gunfire across the Gaza Strip, Pires said. Two other boys also died from injuries sustained earlier.

“About 800,000 children remain displaced by the conflict in the territory, which began in October 2023. Most of them are living in tents or dangerously damaged buildings,” Pires added.

Read Also: Israeli Attacks Kill Palestinian Couple as Gaza Ceasefire Violations Continue

The consequences of Israel’s war affect every aspect of children’s lives in Gaza, Pires said, including “where they sleep, what they eat, whether they can learn.”

The figures highlight the devastating impact of the war on Palestinian children, who have faced deaths, injuries, forced displacement, and the destruction of essential civilian infrastructure.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 175,000 injured since October 2023, with children among those most severely affected.

The UN Human Rights Office has also documented the deaths of 268 children among 1,076 Palestinians whose deaths were verified after the ceasefire took effect.

Read Also: Amnesty Warns of Ethnic Cleansing Risk Amid West Bank Settler Violence

Beyond the immediate threat of violence, Gaza’s children face severe humanitarian challenges, including malnutrition, disease, interrupted education, and psychological trauma. The loss of parents and prolonged displacement have further deepened their vulnerability.

UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for the protection of children, safe and sustained humanitarian access, and an end to the violence. They have warned that prolonged conflict and the lack of essential services could have lasting consequences for an entire generation of Palestinian children.

Pires’s remarks underscore the urgent need for mental health care, rehabilitation, education, and other essential services to help children cope with bereavement and trauma.

Humanitarian organizations have urged the international community to ensure that children in Gaza receive the protection and assistance they need, in accordance with international humanitarian law.[]

Read Also: Four Palestinians Killed in Israeli Attacks Across Gaza Strip

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)