Gaza: 26,000 Children Injured or Killed in 6 Months of War

In the six months of the Israeli offensive since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, 26,000 children have been injured or killed in the Gaza Strip. That’s just over 2% of the region’s child population.

This is stated by Save the Children, which also highlights the damage caused by the conflict to the local health system and the lack of access to education for children.

In these 6 months, 33 children were killed in the October 7 attacks, more than 13,800 minors were killed in Gaza, and 113 in the West Bank, according to the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) and the Gaza Ministry of Health. Of the more than 12,000 children injured, 1000 had one or both legs amputated, and 30 of the 36 hospitals bombed, with only 10 partially functioning today.

90% of school buildings have been damaged and destroyed, and of the 625,000 registered students in Gaza since October, not one has received formal education. The damage to hospitals and schools will have long term implications for children’s lives.

“The destruction of schools is a serious violation of the rights of children in conflict – it will have long-term consequences for a generation whose education will remain at risk even after the fighting ends,” Save the Children said in a statement. “Emotional stress caused by bombs, loss, and hunger make children increasingly vulnerable. Mental health and child protection experts warn that because stability factors such as home, school, and family life have been removed, children are at risk of long-term psychosocial effects.”