Humanitarian organizations report rising number of children killed and injured in West Bank
The number of Palestinian children killed by live ammunition fired by Israeli forces has nearly tripled since October 7, 2023compared to 10 months earlier, up from 39 to 115.
Similarly, the number of Palestinian boys and girls injured by live ammunition fired by Israeli soldiers doubled during the same period, or 1,411 compared to 615.
West Bank violence
The OCHA humanitarian update covering the period from August 6 to 12.
During that time, Israeli forces killed five Palestinians in the West Bank. 54 others were injuredincluding 11 children, by both the Israeli military and settlers.
Palestinians also shot and killed an Israeli civilian and a Palestinian in two separate incidents.
Additionally, two Palestinian men died from injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike during an operation in Jenin on August 5, bringing the death toll in the incident to seven.
Nearly 600 people died
From the start of the Gaza war until August 12, 594 Palestinians killed in the West Bank, including East JerusalemTwo others died of their injuries before October 7.
The majority, 577, were killed by the Israeli army, and 10 were killed by settlers, while it remains unclear whether the remainder were killed by the Israeli army or settlers.
OCHA said Israeli settlers have carried out 25 attacks on Palestinians. during reporting period, caused six injuries and property damage. Among the injured were two children.
Palestinians have also carried out three attacks on settlers, cause injury to a person
OCHA recorded approximately 1,250 attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians between October 7, 2023 and August 12, 2024. Approximately 120 resulted in deaths and injuries, and approximately 1,000 resulted in property damage. In 130 cases, both deaths and property damage occurred.
The agency highlighted an incident during the reporting period in which Israeli settlers assaulted two 15-year-old Palestinian boys by handcuffing them, breaking their legs and urinating on them at a settler outpost near Bethlehem.
Property damage and demolition
The report said demolitions of Palestinian homes and destruction of public infrastructure also continued in the West Bank.
Between August 6 and 12, Israeli authorities demolished or forcibly demolished nine Palestinian-owned structures, one of which was a punitive demolition and eight of which were due to a lack of Israeli-issued building permits, which OCHA noted were virtually impossible to obtain.
As a result, 37 Palestinians were displaced, including 13 children, and some 789 others were affected, mostly children.