Over 100 Children Killed in Gaza Since Ceasefire Began: UNICEF

Gaza, MINA – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Tuesday that more than 100 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire began last October, many of them in Israeli drone and quadcopter strikes, PIC reported.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated during a UN video briefing from Gaza that “over 100 children have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire, meaning a boy or girl has been killed almost every day during this supposed pause in hostilities.” He added that while bombings and shootings have decreased, they have not stopped, leaving survival in Gaza uncertain.

According to Elder, nearly all the child victims, 60 boys and 40 girls were killed in Israeli military operations, including airstrikes, drone attacks, tank shelling, gunfire, and quadcopter raids, with a small number due to unexploded ordnance. He noted the actual death toll is likely higher, as the data only includes cases with sufficient documentation.

Gaza’s Government Media Office announced on Tuesday that cold weather has now claimed seven more lives since winter began, bringing the total to 24 deaths, including 21 children since the start of Israel’s military offensive. Nearly 7,000 tents have been swept away by recent severe weather.

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The Office warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation, with freezing temperatures affecting over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians living in makeshift camps that lack basic necessities.

Ajit Sunghay, head of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the occupied Palestinian territory, described the situation as “extremely dangerous,” stating that winter has become an additional threat alongside ongoing bombings and displacement. He emphasized that children have already died from the cold, a direct result of forced displacement, inadequate shelter, and blocked construction materials.

Sunghay stressed that the disaster was predictable and man-made, noting that leaving hundreds of thousands in “inhumane and insufficient” tents turns natural weather events into tragedies. He called for Phase Two of the ceasefire to allow reconstruction materials into Gaza and warned that continued restrictions on aid and supplies are putting civilians at risk of freezing, building collapses, and ongoing airstrikes.

Recent storms have caused over 20 buildings to collapse and more than 150 partial collapses, resulting in 24 deaths, including 21 children.

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Sunghay blamed the crisis on collective international failure, particularly by member states with the power to pressure Israel to allow humanitarian access. He highlighted that Israel has blocked dozens of international NGOs, denied visas to human rights groups, restricted UN agencies, and prevented aid trucks from entering Gaza.

Sunghay warned against losing focus after the ceasefire, noting that “bombing has not stopped. People are still being killed, by airstrikes, gunfire near buffer zones, the cold, and collapsing shelters.” He reaffirmed that UN agencies will not give up but urged member states to take responsibility, apply real pressure, and ensure accountability for the situation in Gaza.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)

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