UNICEF Says 100 Children Killed in Gaza Since Ceasefire, Warns Cold Weather Is Claiming Young Lives

UNICEF Says 100 Children Killed in Gaza Since Ceasefire, Warns Cold Weather Is Claiming Young Lives
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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned that children in the Gaza Strip continue to die from Israeli military actions and harsh winter conditions, despite a ceasefire that came into effect on October 10 last year.

UNICEF spokesperson James Elder, speaking from Gaza, said that at least 100 children have been killed since the start of the ceasefire, amounting to an average of one child killed per day. He described the humanitarian situation as extremely severe, noting that displaced families sheltering in tents and overcrowded centers lack basic heating and essential supplies.

Elder said around 2.4 million Palestinians in Gaza—most of them displaced after their homes were destroyed—are living in dire conditions marked by weakened immunity and widespread malnutrition, particularly among children. He added that access to education has been severely disrupted, with only one in five children currently able to attend school.

Winter storms, strong winds, and heavy rain have further worsened conditions for families living in inadequate shelters. Since the start of winter, seven young children have reportedly died from acute hypothermia.

UNICEF accused Israel of continuing to block the entry of life-saving medicines and cooking gas, warning that restrictions on some international organizations would deepen the humanitarian crisis. While UNICEF said it has delivered about 75 percent of its planned aid since the ceasefire, it stressed that assistance remains far short of meeting Gaza’s vast needs.