Apr 05 2025
27Dr. Ola Awad, President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, reviewed the situation of Palestinian children, as follows:
Children Constitute 43% of the Population in Palestine, with Gaza Recording the Highest Proportion at 47%
By the end of 2024, the population of Palestine reached 5.5 million, including 2.38 million children (under the age of 18), representing 43% of the total population, 47% in the Gaza Strip, and 41% in the West Bank.
534 Days of Aggression Claim the Lives of Children and Shatter Their Dreams
Since October 7, 2023, a total of 50,021 Palestinians have been martyred, including 17,954 children, of whom 274 were newborns who were born and killed under bombardment. Furthermore, 113,274 individuals have been injured, 69% of them children and women. There are still 11,200 persons reported missing, 70% of whom are children and women. In the West Bank, 923 individuals have been martyred, including 188 children.
1,055 Children Detained Since the Start of the Aggression
Human rights organizations have documented the arrest of 1,055 children since October 2023, many of whom have endured severe violations. As of March 2025, 350 children remain in Israeli detention. Ninety-five children were released during the first phase of the prisoner exchange agreement.
39,000 Orphans in Gaza: An Unprecedented Humanitarian Tragedy
The aggression has rendered 39,384 children orphaned, having lost one or both parents. Among them, 17,000 children have lost both parents, facing dire conditions of displacement and lack of social protection.
7,065 Children Suffer from Permanent Disabilities Due to the Bombardment
As a result of the aggression, 7,065 children have sustained permanent disabilities, including 4,700 cases of limb amputation, amid the collapse of the healthcare system and a severe shortage of medical supplies. The lives of 7,700 newborns are at grave risk.
Polio Resurfaces After 25 Years Due to the Collapse of the Immunization System
Immunization coverage has dropped from 99% to 86%, leading to the resurgence of poliovirus in Gaza. The World Health Organization conducted three rounds of immunization campaigns, targeting over 600,000 children in an attempt to curb the virus's spread.
60,000 Children at Risk of Severe Acute Malnutrition
Approximately 1.95 million Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing food insecurity, including 60,000 children at risk of developing severe acute malnutrition, with 12,000 facing extreme risk.
Aggression Destroys the Education Sector and Deprives an Entire Generation of Its Future
A total of 111 public schools have been completely destroyed, and 241 others have sustained damage, depriving 700,000 students of education during the 2024/2025 academic year. In addition, 12,441 students and 519 teachers have been martyred, while 19,819 students and 2,703 teachers have been injured.
In the West Bank, 90 students have been martyred, and 301 others have been detained amid escalating attacks by Israeli occupation forces and settlers targeting schools, resulting in the disruption of education for approximately 806,000 students.
