One child killed every hour in Gaza

According to Al Mayadeen, Save the Children noted that during nearly 23 months of Israel’s war against women and children in Gaza, the number of children killed has exceeded 20,000. This means that at least one Palestinian child has been killed every hour.

Citing the latest data from the Palestinian Government Information Office in Gaza, the organization reported that since October 2023, at least 20,000 children—about 2% of Gaza’s total child population—have been killed.

The report also indicates that at least 1,009 children under one year old have died, nearly half of whom (450 children) were born and killed during the war.

Furthermore, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 42,011 children have been injured during the conflict. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reports that at least 21,000 Palestinian children have become permanently disabled, while thousands more remain missing or are presumed buried under rubble.

Save the Children emphasized that, even after nearly 23 months of war, the lives of surviving children remain at daily risk.

The organization warned that famine is expected to spread in Gaza in the coming weeks, putting over one million people—nearly half of them children—at risk of catastrophic hunger, which represents the “worst-case scenario under Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Classification.”

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, at least 132,000 children under five are at risk of death due to severe malnutrition, and at least 135 children have already died from starvation, including 20 children since the official famine declaration on August 22, 2025.

The report further states that the Israeli army, through intensified bombing of Gaza, has destroyed 97% of schools and 94% of hospitals, killing children who are seven times more likely than adults to die from blast injuries.

Save the Children stressed that this conflict has involved brutal crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. The organization noted that the International Court of Justice is currently examining whether genocide is taking place and emphasized that even the possibility of genocide is sufficient grounds for immediate action.

The organization underlined that all countries are legally obligated to prevent genocide and take decisive action before it is too late.

Finally, Save the Children called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unrestricted humanitarian access to children and families across the region, and the immediate cessation of transfers of weapons, spare parts, and ammunition used against children and civilians.