At least 101 children killed in West Bank in 2023
At least 101 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank in 2023, said Save the Children, calling for an immediate end to the excessive use of force against children by Israeli forces.
News Center- Save the Children published a press release on November 30. At least 101 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank in 2023, said the press release.
Since the attacks in Israel on 7 October, Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 63 children in the West Bank, according to the UN, averaging more than one child a day. During this same period, the UN has reported that some 143 families, including 388 children, have been displaced from their homes in the West Bank due to settler violence and access restrictions.
“The number of Palestinian children killed in the West Bank by Israeli soldiers or settlers this year is now three times the number killed in 2022 – itself previously the deadliest year on record since 2005 - when 36 children were killed. At least 39 Israeli children have been reportedly killed this year,” said Save the Children.
In the press release, Save the Children expressed concern that child and wider civilian casualties will continue to rise across the occupied Palestinian territory. “The escalation of violence in Gaza has been mirrored by increased control measures and violence in the West Bank including East Jerusalem, with ongoing unrest keeping children out of school, and restricting their access to vital services, including healthcare.”
Call for an immediate end to use of force against children
“While all eyes have been on the conflict in Gaza, there has been no pause in the killing of children in the West Bank, where the situation continues to deteriorate,” said Jason Lee, director for the Palestinian Territories for Save the Children. “The longer the killing of civilians in Gaza continues, the higher the likelihood that this will continue to spread into the West Bank where children are already seeing their rights eviscerated. Children must always be protected. Save the Children is calling for an immediate end to the excessive use of force against children by Israeli forces.”
He also said, “It is long past time to stop violations against children’s rights, and to provide long-lasting safety to children in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel. Anything else will fail to provide them with the future they deserve.”