UN reports growing threat to Palestinian children

WEST BANK: Violence against Palestinians, particularly children and young people, is intensifying across the occupied West Bank, with the United Nations reporting a sharp toll of deaths and injuries since the beginning of 2026.

According to the latest UN figures, 79 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the start of the year, including 19 children. Nearly 1,870 Palestinians have also been injured during the same period.

The continuing violence has been reported in several parts of the West Bank, including Jenin, Nablus and Hebron, where Israeli military operations and settler attacks have resulted in Palestinian deaths and injuries.

On August 21, a Palestinian boy was killed and another seriously wounded during a settler attack near Hebron, highlighting concerns over the growing risks faced by children in communities affected by violence.

The UN said that more than 100 Palestinians were injured between August 11 and 24, including 11 children. A significant proportion of those injuries were linked to attacks by Israeli settlers, according to the figures.

The escalating violence has raised renewed concerns about the safety of Palestinian children, who are increasingly exposed to armed confrontations, raids and attacks in their communities.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has also expressed serious concern over the deteriorating situation. The agency has highlighted growing violence against children, alongside arrests, displacement and attacks affecting homes and schools.

For families across the West Bank, the consequences extend beyond the immediate loss of life. Repeated violence and displacement are disrupting education, threatening access to essential services and creating an atmosphere of fear among children and young people.

The latest UN figures add to mounting international concern over the humanitarian situation in the West Bank, where violence has continued despite repeated calls for greater protection of civilians.

UN agencies have urged all parties to protect children and civilians and ensure that international humanitarian and human rights obligations are respected.