According to UN News, the current ceasefire in Gaza has reduced the scale and frequency of bombardments but has not ended the killing and suffering of children. Reporting from the territory, UNICEF and other UN agencies describe a dire humanitarian situation in which airstrikes, drone attacks and tank shelling have continued despite the truce. UN officials say that, since the ceasefire took effect in early October, more than 100 children have been killed, averaging roughly one child a day. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told reporters that these children have died in incidents involving airstrikes, drones, tank fire, live ammunition and remote-controlled quadcopters.
UN agencies report that two years of war and blockade have left Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins, with homes, schools, health facilities and water and sanitation systems heavily damaged or destroyed. Humanitarian workers warn that children are facing not only direct violence but also severe deprivation, including shortages of food, safe water, medicine and shelter. In addition, recent winter storms and cold temperatures have further endangered displaced families living in makeshift tents and damaged buildings. UNICEF and partner organizations emphasize that the psychological harm to children, after repeated displacement and exposure to violence, remains largely untreated and is deepening over time.
According to UN humanitarians, access constraints and security risks have hampered efforts to deliver assistance at the scale required. The ceasefire has created some space for relief operations, but agencies stress that bureaucratic obstacles, damaged roads and continuing insecurity limit the flow of aid. UN officials say that many children in Gaza now suffer from acute malnutrition, preventable diseases and untreated injuries. They argue that a ceasefire which merely slows the pace of bombardment, without ensuring civilian protection and sustained humanitarian access, cannot be considered sufficient for the safety and well-being of children.
How are people reacting to the ceasefire?
UNICEF and other UN agencies have publicly welcomed any reduction in hostilities but have been explicit that the current ceasefire falls short of what is needed to protect children. UNICEF spokesperson James Elder has been quoted as saying that a ceasefire that still results in children being buried is “not enough,” underscoring the agency’s position that civilian protection must be at the center of any agreement. UN officials describe the situation as one in which bombs fall less often, yet children continue to be killed, injured, displaced and traumatized.
Humanitarian organizations on the ground report that families in Gaza express relief at the relative decrease in bombardment but remain fearful and anxious about ongoing attacks and the lack of safety for their children. Aid workers describe children who show signs of severe psychological distress, including nightmares, regression in behavior and constant fear of loud sounds. Relief agencies say many parents are torn between gratitude for any pause in the fighting and frustration that their children are still at risk of being killed or maimed at any time.
UN human rights bodies and humanitarian leaders have used the situation to reiterate calls for full respect of international humanitarian law, particularly the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. They emphasize that schools, hospitals and shelters must not be targeted and that children deserve special protection in conflict. Diplomats and UN officials have urged all parties to do more to translate the ceasefire into real safety on the ground, insisting that a pause in large-scale operations is not enough if children continue to die in smaller but persistent attacks.
Supporting details and expert concerns
UNICEF and partner organizations stress that the toll on children in Gaza is both immediate and long term. In addition to those killed, many children have sustained life-changing injuries, including amputations and disabilities that will require long-term medical care and rehabilitation. Aid agencies report that health services are overwhelmed, with hospitals operating at reduced capacity due to damage, power shortages and lack of supplies. Medical teams warn that many injured children are not receiving the specialist care they need, which could worsen outcomes over time.
Experts in child psychology and education, cited by humanitarian agencies, warn that prolonged exposure to violence, loss and instability can have lasting effects on children’s cognitive, emotional and social development. They note that repeated displacement and interrupted schooling can undermine a generation’s prospects, especially when education systems are damaged or non-functional. UN agencies report that many schools in Gaza are destroyed or used as shelters, complicating efforts to restart regular classes. In response, humanitarian organizations are trying to set up temporary learning spaces and psychosocial support programs, but these efforts are constrained by resources and security conditions.
Humanitarian reports also highlight the impact of winter weather on children living in overcrowded shelters and tents. With homes and infrastructure destroyed, families lack adequate heating, clothing and bedding, leaving children particularly vulnerable to hypothermia and respiratory illnesses. Aid agencies describe cases of children dying from exposure and preventable diseases as temperatures drop. These deaths, they say, underscore that the dangers to children in Gaza during the ceasefire extend beyond direct violence, encompassing a broader humanitarian emergency that remains unresolved.
What are the implications and what comes next?
UN officials and humanitarian agencies argue that the current situation demonstrates the limitations of a ceasefire that does not fully protect children or allow for sustained, large-scale relief operations. They warn that, if the pattern of child deaths and injuries continues, the ceasefire risks becoming a “quiet” phase of a protracted crisis rather than a genuine step toward safety and recovery. Aid organizations say that without predictable access and security guarantees, they cannot reach all children in need or provide consistent services such as healthcare, nutrition support and education.
According to UN humanitarians, a key priority in the coming period is to expand and secure humanitarian corridors so that food, medical supplies, fuel and shelter materials can enter Gaza in sufficient quantities. They also stress the need for long-term investments in rebuilding essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and water and sanitation systems, to prevent further child deaths from disease and deprivation. UNICEF and other agencies are likely to continue advocating for a more robust and durable arrangement that ensures both an end to active hostilities and concrete measures to protect children and support their recovery.
Diplomatic efforts, as described by the UN, are expected to focus on strengthening the ceasefire, reducing violations and building conditions for a more comprehensive political solution. Humanitarian leaders caution that even if the fighting diminishes further, the cumulative impact of destruction, displacement and trauma on Gaza’s children will require years of support. They emphasize that the measure of any future agreement should be whether children can live, learn and grow safely, rather than whether the number of attacks has simply declined.
In sum, the ceasefire in Gaza has reduced the intensity of large-scale military operations, but UN agencies report that children continue to be killed, injured and exposed to severe hardship. Humanitarian organizations stress that genuine protection for Gaza’s children will require not only the absence of bombardment but also sustained access to aid, rebuilding of essential services and long-term support to heal the physical and psychological wounds of war.
