Gaza Herald _An investigation published by the Israeli daily Haaretz found that 274 Palestinian children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, averaging nearly one child killed every day.
According to the report, the overwhelming majority of the deaths were caused by Israeli airstrikes carried out by fighter jets and drones, while a smaller number of children were killed by sniper fire, collapsing buildings, or shrapnel from attacks.
The newspaper said the figure reflects only children who were killed directly as a result of military operations. It does not include children who later died from starvation, disease, dehydration, or untreated injuries amid the continued collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. The report argued that the actual toll on children is therefore likely to be significantly higher than the number recorded in its analysis.
Haaretz also highlighted the severe humanitarian conditions facing children across the besieged enclave. Hundreds of thousands remain displaced, with many families living in overcrowded tents or makeshift shelters after repeated waves of displacement. Limited access to clean water, food, sanitation, and medical care has left children particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and preventable diseases, while damaged hospitals and shortages of medical supplies have severely restricted access to lifesaving treatment.
The investigation comes amid continued international concern over the protection of civilians in Gaza. Humanitarian organizations and UN agencies have repeatedly warned that children are bearing a disproportionate share of the conflict’s human cost, calling for greater protection of civilians, unrestricted humanitarian access, and accountability for attacks that result in civilian casualties. The report adds to growing scrutiny over the continued use of airstrikes in densely populated areas despite the ceasefire, raising renewed questions about the safety of Gaza’s civilian population, particularly its children.
