Key facts
- 235 children and teenagers killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces and settlers since October 7, 2023.
- Five of these children were killed by settlers, according to Israeli rights group B'Tselem.
- The Palestinian Authority reported 250 deaths in the same period.
- The monthly average of child killings has risen to approximately seven since October 7, from about one per month previously.
- A seven-month-old infant was among the casualties, shot by Israeli troops in Hebron.
Israeli forces and settlers have killed 235 children and teenagers in the West Bank since October 7, 2023, a significant increase compared to previous periods, according to reports. Five of these children were killed by settlers, B'Tselem, an Israeli rights group, stated. The Palestinian Authority's Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission reported 250 such deaths over the same timeframe.
Between 2005 and 2021, an average of about one Palestinian child or teenager was killed by Israeli forces each month. Since the October 7 attacks, this average has risen to around seven per month, based on B'Tselem figures.
One notable casualty was seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal, who was shot in the face by Israeli troops in Hebron in June 2026 while on his mother's lap. His mother, Dania Abu Haikal, was also wounded in the incident. She questioned why an infant would be targeted by soldiers.