On September 8, 2025, Save the Children reported that—on average—one Palestinian child is killed every hour in Gaza, highlighting the devastating pace of child casualties since October 2023. Data from Gaza’s authorities indicate that over 20,000 children—roughly 2% of Gaza’s child population—have lost their lives, including at least 1,009 babies under the age of one. (Maktoob media)
Ahmad Alhendawi, the organization’s Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, condemned the statistics as a “shameful… horrific new low,” citing “systematic attacks on children’s homes, playgrounds, schools and hospitals, starvation by design”. He urged the international community to act immediately, stating: “If the international community does not step up, an entire generation of children in Gaza will be lost.” (Maktoob media)
Corroborating Statistics & Context
- UNICEF reported that more than 17,800 children have been killed over the past 15 months, with thousands more suffering life-changing injuries such as limb loss, blindness, and deafness—underscoring the war’s physical and psychological toll. (Save the Children)
- A previous data snapshot revealed that nearly 15,600 children have been identified among the over 17,400 child fatalities since October 7, 2023—translating to roughly one child killed every 45 minutes. (Al Jazeera)
- UNICEF further stressed that, since the conflict began, an average of 28 children per day have been killed—highlighting a grim reality of conflict as a relentless threat to childhood in Gaza. (Al Jazeera)
What These Numbers Mean
These figures reflect not just statistics—but countless lives cut tragically short. Israel’s offensive has disproportionately impacted children, dismantling healthcare systems, schools, and homes, and resulting in widespread malnutrition, displacement, and collapsing infrastructure.
Alhendawi’s plea for a definitive ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access is urgent; each hour, a child’s brief life ends, and with it, a future extinguished. (Maktoob media)
