“Don’t Forget Children in the West Bank", Urges War Child Country Director

Excessive use of force by Israeli armed forces and police against Palestinian communities have also been extensively documented in the last six weeks, as well as raids, notably in Jenin and Tulkarm governorates. According to humanitarian reports, the IAF arrested 880 children in the West Bank during these raids throughout 2023, including 145 children between 7 October and 20 November.

Meanwhile, incidents of settler violence and attacks on civilians have increased from a daily average of three to six since 7 October. At least 143 families, including 388 children have been forcibly displaced. In addition, 118 Palestinian children have been displaced following the demolition of their homes in the West Bank - including 25 children forced to flee their homes due to punitive demolitions.

“Children’s rights are being violated at a horrifying scale across Gaza and the West Bank”, says Sahar Smoom, War Child Country Director in the occupied Palestinian territory. “While global attention has focused on the Gaza Strip - widely considered the most dangerous place in the world to be a child right now - children in the West Bank are also heavily affected and subject to grave violations.”

As an organisation committed to protecting children affected by conflict, War Child strongly condemns these violations and calls on the Israeli authorities to fulfil its obligations under international law. We are also calling on the international community to use its influence to ensure that violence is de-escalated and international law is adhered to.