Israeli occupying forces have killed at least 300 Palestinian children in the besieged Gaza Strip over the past 300 days since a so-called ceasefire was announced in October 2025, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The UN agency stated that this toll averages one child killed every day, despite an agreement meant to halt Israeli military aggression and enable the full entry of humanitarian aid and relief supplies.
UNICEF warned that the ongoing deaths expose the ceasefire’s failure to protect children. It called for urgent measures to end hostilities and expand humanitarian access throughout the blockaded Palestinian territory.
“A ceasefire that leaves an average of one child dead each and every day is failing children,” said UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder. “With hundreds more children injured, many severely, children in Gaza are still waiting for the end to the violence they were promised.”
According to UNICEF, families remain confined to roughly one-third of the Gaza Strip, living in dangerous conditions amid destroyed buildings, rubble, and accumulated solid waste. Children continue to face acute risks from malnutrition, disease, unsafe drinking water, and damaged sanitation systems.
Beigbeder noted that recent announcements on the next phase of the ceasefire offer renewed hope for ending Israeli aggression and scaling up humanitarian assistance.
“Announcements made in recent days set out a roadmap for the next phase of the ceasefire, including steps towards ending hostilities and scaling up humanitarian relief. This offers new hope and a chance to finally stop children being killed,” he said.
“For children in Gaza, the test is simple. Does the killing stop? Does aid reach them at scale? Do hospitals reopen and water flow? Will children return to school safely in September? Children have heard promises before. This time, agreements must translate into action.”
UNICEF urged the Israeli regime to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law. The agency called on Israel to protect children, ensure access to essential services including healthcare, education, safe water and food, and allow safe, rapid, and unimpeded humanitarian access for those in need.
Palestinian authorities report that Israel’s genocide has killed more than 73,375 Palestinians and injured over 174,220 others, most of them women and children, while destroying or damaging around 90 percent of civilian infrastructure. The United Nations estimates the cost of rebuilding Gaza at approximately $70 billion.
Since the so-called ceasefire deal was signed, at least 1,250 Palestinians have been killed and another 4,110 injured in Israeli attacks, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 reported on July 4 that Israel could resume a full-scale military offensive in Gaza within two months.
