Israeli forces are killing Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank at the highest rate since 1967, with 54 shot dead in 2025, B’Tselem said on Monday.
The Israeli human rights group said nearly one in four Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the occupied territory since October 2023 has been a minor, marking the highest proportion since the occupation began.
Despite the high child death toll, no one has been held accountable and there are no known indictments linked to the killings since October 2023.
B’Tselem said the deaths were not “isolated mistakes or violations of military orders”.
Instead, it said they were the result of an Israeli policy that permits lax rules of engagement, routinely labels Palestinians as “terrorists”, and shields soldiers who use lethal force.
