Muhammad Amanullah | August 12, 2026
The True Post (Web News) — UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, has released alarming figures on the situation of Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, reporting that at least 174 Palestinian children have been killed and more than 1,500 injured since January 2024.
More Than One Palestinian Child Killed Every Week
UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hanan Suleiman told the United Nations Security Council that during the past roughly two and a half years, more than one Palestinian child has been killed every week in the occupied West Bank.
She said the number of children injured during the same period has exceeded 1,500. Approximately half of the injured children reportedly suffered wounds caused directly by gunfire.
Children Allegedly Targeted Despite Posing No Immediate Threat
The UNICEF official told the Security Council that the organization had documented incidents in which Palestinian children were reportedly shot when they did not pose an immediate threat.
According to UNICEF, some children were also shot while attempting to flee. The agency has documented other incidents involving violence against children as well.
Children Facing Other Forms of Violence
According to Hanan Suleiman, Palestinian children have faced violence beyond shootings, including beatings, knife attacks and pepper spray.
She also said there have been incidents involving damage to children’s homes, sources of livelihood and basic water infrastructure, affecting children’s lives and access to essential needs.
355 Palestinian Children in Israeli Military Detention
Citing figures from the Israeli Prison Service, the UNICEF official said that at least 355 Palestinian children from the West Bank are currently being held in Israeli military detention.
According to the figures cited, this is the highest number recorded in the past eight years.
Around half of the detained children — 164 in total — are reportedly being held under administrative detention.
164 Children Held Under Administrative Detention
According to UNICEF, administrative detention is a situation in which a person can be held without being formally charged or put on trial.
UNICEF expressed serious concern over the detention of children and reported incidents of violence against them, saying that the situation concerning children’s protection and fundamental human rights in the occupied West Bank remains extremely alarming.
Urgent Action Needed to Protect Children
According to the UN agency, the increasing incidents of violence and detention involving children have raised serious questions about child protection in the occupied West Bank.
The figures presented by UNICEF once again highlight the severe impact that the ongoing conflict and tensions in the occupied territories are having on children, who continue to bear a significant share of the consequences.
