On her X profile, UNICEF Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, Adele Khodr, warned that the figure accounts for “more than three times the number of children killed in 2022.”

Children must never be subjected to violence and must always be granted special protection under international law, Khodr stressed.

The UNICEF official pointed out that severe violations of children’s rights, especially killing and maiming, are unacceptable.”

Putting an end to recurrent violence is the best way to ensure that children can grow up in peace and security, she said.

Khodr also condemned last week’s increase in Israel’s attacks in the Gaza Strip and warned that they endangered humanitarian operations from which the survival of the entire population of that territory depends.

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