NEW YORK / PNN/

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said, “Far too often, children in the State of Palestine are the victims of this relentless conflict. Nearly all of the 2.4 million children living across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, are affected in some way. Some children live with tremendous fear or anxiety; others face the real consequences of deprivation of humanitarian assistance and protection, displacement, destruction or death. All children must be protected.”

This statement was issued by UNICEF's Middle East and North Africa Regional Director, Edouard Beigbeder, after concluding a four-day mission to the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

“Without aid entering the Gaza Strip, roughly 1 million children are living without the very basics they need to survive – yet again,” he said.

“In the West Bank including East Jerusalem, more than 200 Palestinian and 3 Israeli children were killed since October 2023, the highest figure recorded in such timeframe in the past two decades.”

“Children must not be killed, injured or displaced and all parties must respect their obligations under international law. Civilians’ essential and protection needs must be met, and humanitarian assistance must be allowed to flow at speed and scale,” he stressed.

“Tens of thousands of children have been killed and injured. We must not go back to a situation that pushes these numbers higher.”