Deadly violence continues to claim children's lives across Gaza and the West Bank

Statement by UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder

AMMAN, 10 June 2026 – “This weekend eight children were reported killed and a further 17 injured in five different locations in the Gaza Strip, while in the West Bank, a seven-month-old boy died after being shot by Israeli forces in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron.

“Yet again, children have had their lives cut short. In one of the areas hit in Gaza, a group of children playing a game of football were injured by a nearby strike.

“In the West Bank, an infant boy, who hadn’t yet had the chance to take his first steps, was shot while sitting on his mother’s lap in the backseat of a car.

“We cannot let this become the new normal – children losing their lives to violence should cause global outrage and must be condemned at every level.

“In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the killing and injuring of children and their families, forced displacement, and attacks on schools, homes, water and health infrastructure show a flagrant disregard for children’s rights.

“UNICEF calls on the Israeli authorities to take decisive action to protect all Palestinian children. Authorities must ensure transparent, credible, and robust investigations, as well as accountability whenever children are killed or maimed.

“International human rights law and international humanitarian law must be upheld, and every child’s inherent right to life must be protected.”

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