Gaza City: An unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe has unfolded in the Gaza Strip, with children bearing the brunt of a prolonged conflict.
According to Libyan News Agency, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reported on Thursday a staggering toll on the youngest members of the Palestinian population. In a span of 534 days, starting from October 7, 2023, to March 23, 2025, approximately 18,000 children lost their lives, and 39,000 orphans were created, making it the largest orphan crisis in modern history.
The PCBS further highlighted that children constitute 43% of the Palestinian population, underscoring the extensive impact of the conflict on future generations. The situation is exacerbated by famine and malnutrition, with 60,000 cases of acute malnutrition expected. Alarmingly, the return of polio has been confirmed in the Gaza Strip, adding to the numerous challenges faced by children in the region.
The report also noted the systematic violation of children’s rights, with more than 1,055 children arrested by occupation forces since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023. This is viewed as a flagrant breach of international law, contributing to the dire humanitarian situation.
The comprehensive data reveals that children and women accounted for over 60% of the total casualties during the period of aggression. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 50,021 Palestinians, including 17,954 children. Among these tragic figures, 274 infants were killed by shelling, 876 children under one year old perished, 17 children died from cold in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, and 52 succumbed to starvation and systematic malnutrition. Additionally, 113,274 individuals were injured, with 69% being children and women. More than 11,200 citizens remain missing, 70% of whom are children and women.
Estimates indicate that 39,384 children in the Gaza Strip lost one or both parents due to the Israeli aggression, including approximately 17,000 children who were deprived of both parents. These children now face a harsh life without support or care, compounding the already severe humanitarian crisis in the region.