At least 74 children killed in Gaza during first week of 2025
At least 74 children have been killed in violent attacks in the Gaza Strip during the first week of the new year, Unicef reported on Wednesday. The deaths occurred during multiple attacks in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Al Mawasi, a zone designated as a "safe area".
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, according to the UN’s children’s agency. More than 1 million children are living in makeshift tents, leaving them highly vulnerable to the harsh winter conditions. Since 26 December, eight newborns and infants have died from hypothermia due to freezing temperatures.
“For the children of Gaza, the new year has brought more death and suffering from attacks, deprivation and increasing exposure to the cold,” Unicef executive director Catherine Russell said in a statement. She called for an immediate ceasefire and emphasised the urgency of ending the violence.
Aid supply
The collapse of civil order and the looting of humanitarian aid have severely hampered relief efforts. The flow of aid trucks into Gaza also remains “alarmingly inadequate”, according to Unicef. Access to essential services such as food, clean water and sanitation is critically limited.
Medical care is also under pressure. Kamal Adwan Hospital, the last operational medical facility in northern Gaza with a paediatric unit, was forced to shut down after a raid in late December, leaving many families without access to vital healthcare.
“Families need an end to this unimaginable suffering and heartbreak”
Unicef is calling on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the safety of civilians and aid workers. The organisation also demands unhindered access to humanitarian aid and a rapid improvement in security conditions to allow for the delivery of life-saving supplies.
“Families need an end to this unimaginable suffering and heartbreak,” Russell said.
A boy walks past blood stains at the site of an Israeli strike on a house in Khan Yunis © PHOTO BASHAR TALEB / AFP
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