According to UNICEF, at least 322 children have been killed and hundreds more wounded in Gaza since Israel’s renewed offensive began on March 18. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate amid ongoing violence and blocked aid.
UNICEF Reports Alarming Child Casualties Amid Renewed Gaza Offensive
UNICEF Reports Alarming Child Casualties Amid Renewed Gaza Offensive
UNICEF reveals that the recent escalation in Gaza has resulted in the tragic loss of 322 children, as humanitarian conditions worsen in the region.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported a grievous surge in child casualties, stating that at least 322 children have been killed since Israel launched a renewed offensive in Gaza two weeks prior. The organization further highlighted that at least 609 additional children have been injured during this period.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed deep concern, noting, "The ceasefire in Gaza provided a desperately needed lifeline for Gaza's children and hope for a path to recovery. But children have again been plunged into a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation." The renewed offensive commenced on March 18, following Hamas's rejection of a new U.S. proposal aimed at extending a ceasefire and facilitating the release of 59 hostages held in Gaza. In response, Hamas accused Israel of breaching the agreement initially reached in January.
The agency condemned the "relentless and indiscriminate bombardments" now occurring in Gaza, reporting that around 100 children are either killed or injured daily over the past ten days ending March 31. Most of the fatalities involved children who had already been displaced and were seeking shelter in makeshift tents or damaged homes, according to UNICEF. The agency relies on figures provided by Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, which Israel has consistently contested. Despite the controversy, these figures have been acknowledged by the UN and other international bodies as reliable.
With international journalists barred from independently entering Gaza, verifying claims from either side remains challenging. BBC News has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for a response.
Over the course of the war, which has persisted for more than 18 months, UNICEF documents that approximately 15,000 children have been reported dead, over 34,000 injured, and nearly one million repeatedly displaced. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks, exacerbated by Israel's refusal to permit aid into the region since March 2—marking the longest blockade since the outbreak of war. UNICEF warned that without vital supplies, malnutrition and disease will likely rise, contributing to preventable child deaths.
The UN announced its intention to scale back operations in Gaza on March 24, shortly after multiple fatalities included eight Palestinian medics, six civil defense responders, and a UN worker, all reportedly struck by Israeli forces in southern Gaza. The IDF launched a campaign against Hamas—a group labeled a terrorist organization by Israel, the UK, and the US—following an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which led to around 1,200 deaths and the abduction of 251 individuals. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 50,399 people have died in Gaza during the ongoing conflict.
