2021 deadliest year for Palestinian children in seven years: report

At least 86 Palestinian children have been killed since January, making it the deadliest year for minors in the Palestinian territories since 2014, according to an NGO.

From clashes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem to air raids on Gaza, children in Palestine continue to face the deadly consequences of Israeli military actions and occupation.

Defence for Children International (DCI) in Palestine revealed that 61 children were killed in the besieged Gaza Strip and another 15 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by Israeli forces between 1 January to 10 December.

Another two children were killed at the hands of Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

Seven Palestinian children were accidentally killed after rockets misfired in the Gaza Strip during the war with Israel earlier this year, while another minor also died as a result of unexploded ordinance.

Israel bombed Gaza for 11 days straight in May, killing over 256 people and wounding thousands.

At least 13 were killed in Israel by Hamas' retaliatory rocket fire.

The ICC had said war crimes may have been committed by Israel during its campaign on Gaza.

In further details regarding the deaths, the DCI report showed that 19 children were killed with live ammunition, six in drone-fired missiles, 51 in airstrikes, and two due to tank shelling.

A total 2,198 Palestinian children have been killed as a result of Israeli military and settler presence in occupied Palestinian territories since 2000, according to the DCI documentation.

Thousands of others have been wounded and held in detention.

The Swiss-based NGO was one of six branded by Israel as terror organisations in October. The move drew wide condemnation from the international community.

The targeting of the civil society groups effectively outlaws their activities, threatens jail time for employees, volunteers and donors and allows for the seizure of assets.