The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called for an immediate cessation of Israeli armed actions in the occupied West Bank. UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edward Begbedir, said in a statement on Wednesday evening that 13 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank since the beginning of the year, including 7 after the Israeli occupation launched the large-scale military campaign in the northern West Bank on January 19. Bigbider noted the martyrdom of a two-and-a-half-year-old whose pregnant mother was also wounded in the shooting.
He added that UNICEF condemns “all acts of violence against children” and calls for “the immediate cessation of armed actions throughout the occupied West Bank.” He stressed “the need to protect all civilians, including children without exception.” “The increased use of explosive weapons, airstrikes and demolitions in Jenin, Tulkarm and Tubas governorates – including refugee camps and other densely populated areas – has caused extensive damage to basic infrastructure, resulting in interruptions in water and electricity supplies,” the statement said.
According to UNICEF, 195 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 7 October 2023.
Pegbider noted a 200 per cent increase in the number of Palestinian children killed in the region over the past 16 months compared to the previous 16 months.
