Israel’s actions lead to 11 child deaths in West Bank since early 2025

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that since the beginning of 2025, 11 children have lost their lives in the West Bank due to actions by Israeli forces, six of them falling victim to airstrikes.

OCHA reminds Israel of its obligation under international humanitarian law to protect Palestinians and maintain public order and security, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

The OCHA highlighted that Israeli operations continue in the northern regions of the West Bank, leading to more deaths, destruction, and displacement of civilians.

"Since January 2023, 224 children have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers, nearly half of total 468 child fatalities documented by OCHA in the West Bank since 2005," the statement read. "This figure includes 11 children killed by Israeli forces since the start of 2025, including six fatalities from airstrikes."

OCHA has noted a "significant increase" in child casualties on the West Bank over the past two years, compared to the previous 18 years. In 2023 and 2024, 82 per cent of the victims were shot, while 18 per cent were killed in airstrikes, primarily in Jenin and Tulkarm provinces.

Between January 2023 and December 2024, over 2,500 Palestinian children were injured, with 28 per cent of them wounded by Israeli forces' live ammunition. In 2025, 89 Palestinian children were injured, with 48 per cent of these injuries resulting from live ammunition.

"The significant number of children killed and injured by Israeli forces using live ammunition or airstrikes raises concerns about the unnecessary and excessive use of force," the office noted.

"As the occupying power, Israel has a legal obligation to protect Palestinians and maintain public order and security in the West Bank in accordance with international humanitarian law and human rights legislation," the OCHA said.  

On January 21, the Israeli army's press service announced the launch of a large-scale operation in Jenin named "Iron Wall". On January 27, the military informed about the commencement of an operation in Tulkarm, also located in the northern part of the West Bank. On February 2, the operational actions expanded to five more Palestinian towns in the region.

By Naila Huseynova