The Palestinian Prisoners Society has raised alarming concerns about the increasing abduction of Palestinian children by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. In a statement released on Monday, the Society reported that at least seven children, including two brothers, had been kidnapped in the previous 24 hours. Additionally, Israel’s military court extended the detention of three children from the town of Beit Ummar near al-Khalil.
Reports indicate that since early June, 250 children have gone missing from the occupied West Bank. The humanitarian situation is dire, with Save the Children reporting that nearly 21,000 Palestinian children are either missing, kidnapped, or buried under rubble or in mass graves due to Israel’s military actions. Families are struggling to confirm the whereabouts and well-being of their children because of intensified restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities.
UNICEF has highlighted the severe nutritional crisis affecting children in Gaza, noting that about 90 percent of children lack proper nutrition and face severe threats to their survival, growth, and development. In June, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his shock over the unprecedented number of children killed and maimed by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
A UN report published on June 3 detailed "8,009 grave violations against 4,360 children" in Gaza and the West Bank. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has stated that more than 50,000 children in Gaza require immediate medical treatment for acute malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 8,000 children have been diagnosed and treated for acute malnutrition, with 1,600 suffering from the most severe form.
The mental and physical toll on Gaza’s children is catastrophic, with many losing their lives due to the conditions imposed by the Israeli blockade. Nearly half of the over 37,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 7 have been children. The United Nations has noted the unprecedented scale of violations against children in Gaza and the West Bank in 2023, marking it as one of the worst years for Palestinian children.
