UNICEF has warned that the ceasefire in Gaza is “a cruel and deadly illusion” for children, reporting that 265 Palestinian children have been killed since October 2025 despite the agreement being in place.

Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said that during the period of the declared ceasefire, a child has been killed on average every day for more than eight months, describing the situation as “absurd and devastating.”

He said children in Gaza have been killed in their homes, schools, and public spaces, including while playing or engaging in everyday activities, and cited incidents involving shootings, bombings, and drone strikes.

“This so-called ceasefire has become a cruel and deadly illusion,” Elder said, adding that the continued deaths raise serious questions about the credibility of describing the situation as a ceasefire at all.

According to UNICEF, more than 400 children have also been injured during the same period, many with severe and life-changing wounds affecting the head, chest, and abdomen. The agency said some children are suffering long-term trauma that is affecting their ability to eat, sleep, and develop normally.

Elder highlighted recent cases, including children killed in tents and others injured by live fire, warning that psychological trauma has become a defining feature of childhood in Gaza due to continuous exposure to violence and fear.

He also said restrictions on medical supplies and evacuation continue to worsen the humanitarian situation, leaving many injured children without adequate treatment and increasing the risk of complications and long-term disability.

UNICEF stressed that the ongoing deaths of children during a period described as a ceasefire represent a failure of political will rather than a lack of options, calling for accountability and stronger protection for civilians.

Elder also referenced similar concerns in Lebanon, where UNICEF said 247 children have been killed and nearly 1,000 injured since early March amid renewed hostilities, despite periods of reduced fighting. He said the pattern of child casualties in both Gaza and Lebanon shows that “no ceasefire can be considered meaningful while children continue to be killed.” (ILKHA)