John AdoyiAs the escalated conflict between Israel and Hamas approaches its second year, the United Nations has raised a fresh alarm about the devastating toll on Gaza’s children.
According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), at least 10 children are losing one or both legs every day as a result of injuries sustained during Israel’s ongoing military offensive.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn a post on X, the UN Human Rights Office described the situation as “unconscionable,” adding that 134,105 people, including over 40,500 children, have suffered new war-related injuries since the fighting began. More than 35,000 people are also believed to have sustained serious hearing damage due to the intensity of explosions in the densely populated territory.
“Ten children a day losing limbs is not just a statistic. It is a searing indictment of a war being waged with total disregard for civilians,” the OHCHR stated. “This must stop.”
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The injuries are largely caused by high-impact explosive weapons such as airstrikes, drone missiles and artillery, often used in residential areas. Health workers say many amputations are carried out without anaesthesia due to the near-total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Hospitals are critically under-resourced, often lacking electricity, pain relief medication and even clean water.
Human rights organisations say the number of child amputees in Gaza is now the highest recorded anywhere in the world.
The war, now nearing its second anniversary, began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds hostage. Israel responded with a prolonged and wide-ranging military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has continued largely unabated despite international condemnation and repeated calls for a ceasefire.
According to the United Nations, more than 58,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, including over 17,000 children. The territory’s infrastructure has been devastated, with entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble. With most hospitals either destroyed or severely damaged, thousands of injured civilians, particularly children, are unable to access adequate treatment.
In addition to the mounting number of amputations, the OHCHR said that over 35,000 people in Gaza are believed to have sustained significant hearing loss, many of them children, due to repeated exposure to high-decibel blasts. Most go untreated, increasing the risk of long-term isolation and developmental delay.
The situation is further compounded by rising hunger. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported last week that one in every 10 children under the age of five screened in its clinics is suffering from acute malnutrition. UNICEF and the World Food Programme have both warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine, as aid deliveries are frequently blocked or delayed due to ongoing hostilities and access restrictions.
“The level of suffering among children in Gaza is simply staggering,” said Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF. “Many are injured, starved, traumatised. Some are facing all of these at once.”
Ceasefire Efforts Falter Despite New Proposal
In June 2025, United States President Donald Trump unveiled a new ceasefire proposal, backed by Qatar and Egypt, which called for a 60-day truce, phased Israeli withdrawal, and the release of remaining hostages. President Trump said he was hopeful that a deal could be reached “within a week”.
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However, negotiations in Doha have since stalled. Hamas is demanding a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. These conditions have so far been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government remains divided on how to proceed. While there is increasing public pressure within Israel to end the war, deep political rifts have kept the talks deadlocked.
A temporary ceasefire earlier this year in March lasted only a few days before collapsing. Israeli airstrikes resumed in late June, prompting fresh evacuations and rising casualties across the Strip.
A Generation of Trauma
The United Nations has warned that the growing number of amputated children in Gaza will leave long-term scars, not only physically but psychologically. With limited access to prosthetics, rehabilitation, or education, thousands of children face a future marked by disability, trauma and lost potential.
As Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens, aid agencies are calling for immediate action. Their demands include a sustained ceasefire, safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian relief, and urgent investment in trauma care and the rebuilding of health infrastructure.
