2021 was the deadliest year for Palestinian children since 2014. According to Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP), Israeli forces and armed Israeli civilians killed 86 Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) in 2021. This includes 61 children killed in the Gaza Strip during the 11-day war in May 2021 and 15 children killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The following are some of the reasons why 2021 was such a deadly year for Palestinian children:
- The 11-day war in May 2021 was the most intense period of violence in the Gaza Strip since the 2014 war. Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling killed hundreds of Palestinians, including many children.
- Israeli forces continued to use live ammunition against Palestinian protesters in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. This led to the deaths of several children.
- Palestinian armed groups also fired rockets into Israel, which killed several Israeli civilians, including children.
The deaths of Palestinian children in the OPT are a tragedy. They are a reminder of the ongoing violence and suffering of the Palestinian people. The international community must take action to protect Palestinian children and end the violence in the OPT.
Here are some sources that you can refer to for more information on this topic:
- Defense for Children International – Palestine: https://www.dci-palestine.org/
- Human Rights Watch: https://www.hrw.org/
- UNICEF: https://www.unicef.org/