Israeli forces, settlers killed 235 children in West Bank since 7 Oct 2023, report says

Israeli forces and settlers have reportedly killed 235 Palestinian children and teenagers in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, according to an AFP report. This figure exceeds the average of one such death per month between 2005 and 2021, as recorded by the Israeli rights group B Tselem. Among the victims, five were killed by Israeli settlers.

Palestinian sources, such as the Palestinian Authority's Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, reported 250 such deaths during the same period. The youngest victim was a seven-month-old infant, Sam Abu Haikal, who was shot in the face by Israeli troops in Hebron in June 2023. His mother, Dania Abu Haikal, expressed shock at the incident, questioning why anyone would target such a young child.

Another incident involved an entire family, including seven-year-old Mohammed Bani Odeh, who were killed by Israeli soldiers in March 2023. These tragic occurrences highlight the growing issue of Palestinian children being killed by Israeli forces or settlers since the beginning of the Gaza war.