Over 21,500 Children Killed By Israel In Gaza Within 1,000 Days
TEHRAN: The Israeli regime has killed more than 21,500 children in Gaza since 8 October 2023, according to figures released by the Gaza Government Media Office as the territory marked 1,000 days of what it described as genocide by Israel.
The casualty figures include more than 520 babies born during the war, as well as 1,022 children under the age of one, according to a statement by the office issued on Thursday, 2 July, to mark 1,000 days since the start of the war in Gaza.
The report stated that children in Gaza continue to face the threat of death, injury, starvation, displacement, and the collapse of basic services including healthcare, education, and child protection following Israel’s ongoing attacks.
Meanwhile, on 19 June 2026, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) described the ceasefire announced in October 2025 as “a cruel and deadly illusion” for children in Gaza, due to continued killings, injuries, and restrictions on the delivery of food and medical supplies.
According to UNICEF, at least 265 Palestinian children have been killed and more than 400 others injured since the ceasefire took effect, with many suffering permanent, life-altering injuries. The agency warned that the ongoing killing and maiming of children during the ceasefire period risks becoming normalised.
Data released by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics also shows that children account for approximately 30 per cent of total deaths and 26 per cent of total injuries up to the end of 2025.
The Bureau reported that more than 10,500 children suffered serious injuries, while more than 1,000 others underwent amputations. Additionally, nearly 4,000 children still face the risk of death if they are not evacuated from Gaza to receive specialist medical treatment.
Malnutrition has also severely impacted children.
According to Gaza health authorities, 157 children have died from starvation and malnutrition since the war began, while a further 25 died from hypothermia in temporary displacement camps.
Citing data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics said that more than 3,700 children aged between six and 59 months were enrolled in malnutrition treatment programmes in February 2026, including more than 600 cases of severe acute malnutrition requiring immediate treatment.
A total of 64 per cent of children consumed no more than two food groups per day, while more than 90 per cent failed to obtain the minimum dietary diversity required for healthy development.
Meanwhile, more than 60 per cent of children in Gaza are reported to be suffering from acute malnutrition, threatening their physical growth and cognitive development.
AGENSI