UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hannan Sulieman's remarks at the United Nations Security Council meeting on escalating violence in the West Bank

UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hannan Sulieman's remarks at the United Nations Security Council meeting on escalating violence in the West Bank

NEW YORK, 11 August 2026 - "Mr President … Excellencies … thank you to Denmark for convening this important briefing.

"We meet as the situation facing children across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continues to deteriorate.

"A grandmother told UNICEF colleagues that she was afraid to even step out of her home to put the rubbish outside because of nearly daily settler attacks. She described how an improvised incendiary grenade was thrown into her kitchen, setting the house on fire while her grandchildren were inside.

"She has since covered the windows with corrugated iron to try to protect her family, but the persistent sense of fear and insecurity haunts them, particularly for the safety of children while travelling to and from school.

"Imagine raising children under conditions like this. Living behind metal-covered windows … afraid to step outside … afraid of what might happen to your children on the way to school … afraid of being exposed to violence in your home. For far too many Palestinian families, these fears have become part of daily life.

"Over the past three years, settler violence and increasingly militarized operations have escalated sharply across the West Bank. Children have been killed and injured. Families have been displaced. Homes, schools, and essential infrastructure have been attacked or destroyed.

"And the fundamental spaces of childhood – the home, the classroom, the street, the community – are becoming increasingly unsafe.

"Excellencies … the numbers tell us just how grave the situation has become.

Between January 2024 and the end of July this year, 174 Palestinian children were verified killed by the UN in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - that is more than one child every week.  More than 1,500 were injured. Nearly half of those injured were wounded by live ammunition. Over the same period, 3 Israeli children were killed and 15 injured.

"Boys, particularly adolescent boys, account for most of the children who have been killed and injured.

"The UN continues to monitor and verify grave violations against children in the West Bank. These include incidents in which children were shot when they did not pose an imminent threat - some were shot while running away, while others were simply caught in the violence around them.

"At the same time, incidents of settler violence are increasing. These have resulted in grave violations against children, which have been identified by the Secretary-General in his latest Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict.  Documented incidents include children being shot, beaten, stabbed, and pepper sprayed ... homes and livelihoods being attacked ... and water infrastructure being damaged or destroyed.

"And as mentioned in the latest annual report of the S-G on Children and Armed Conflict, accountability for grave violations against children remains exceedingly rare.

"These incidents leave more than physical wounds. Children who survive serious injuries may live with disabilities for the rest of their lives. Some face arrest. Others struggle to return to school.

"Exposing a child to violence, raids, intimidation, and displacement takes a profound psychological toll.

"Parents tell us about children struggling to sleep … children who are afraid to leave home … children withdrawing from school and their communities.

"And parents tell us something equally devastating: that they no longer feel capable of keeping their children safe. That is a terrible reality for any parent. And it is a terrible reality for any child.

"Excellencies … the impact extends far beyond those children directly affected by the violence.

"According to the education cluster, more than 800,000 children in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, face barriers to safe and continuous education because of school closures, insecurity, movement restrictions, and damage to infrastructure. In 2026 alone, 99 education-related incidents were documented, including children being killed, injured or detained in or on their way to schools; schools being demolished; school buildings being used by military forces; and children being denied access to education.

"Parents are struggling to keep their children learning when the journey to school itself can be dangerous.

"According to OCHA, across the West Bank, more than 900 additional movement barriers and restrictions have been imposed over the past two and a half years. Many gates are frequently closed, which results in highly restricted access to movement and essential services, including access to health services and water sources.

"In a recent UNICEF field mission to the West Bank, colleagues were told that settler attacks have damaged water infrastructure and equipment, including water networks and storage tanks. This has resulted in reduced access to safe water and other basic WASH services. In some areas, developing new water sources is impeded, and as a result, residents are now forced to rely on expensive water trucking.  

"Access restrictions are further compounded by repeated intimidation at checkpoints that deter or delay civilians from attempting a crossing.   

"Excellencies, the situation of children in detention is also deeply concerning.  According to the Israel Prison Service, at least 355 Palestinian children from the West Bank are currently held in Israeli military detention – the highest number in eight years.

"Nearly half – 164 children – are held under administrative detention without charge or trial.

"Children in detention continue to report violence, ill-treatment, humiliating and degrading treatment, and harsh conditions – with a pattern of inadequate nutrition and hygiene for children resulting in extreme weight loss and rampant scabies infection amongst child detainees.

"This year a UNICEF partner spoke to a boy who was arrested from his home in the middle of the night, faced physical violence, was hand-tied, blindfolded, and faced various violations. While being interrogated, the child was held in solitary confinement for over 20 days.

Excellencies … the dire situation for children is being compounded by growing obstacles to humanitarian access and essential services.

"Local authorities have had tax revenues withheld and are unable to pay health and education workers, affecting children’s access to basic services.  Children requiring medical treatment must be able to reach it. Humanitarian workers and partners must be able to reach children safely, wherever those children live.

"Despite these challenges, UNICEF and our partners remain on the ground.

"When families are forcibly displaced, UNICEF and partners provide emergency assistance, mental health and psychosocial services, cash, drinking water and hygiene, and support to continue their education.

"But humanitarian assistance can only mitigate the consequences.

"It cannot remove the causes. That requires political action.

"So today, I leave this Council with four urgent requests.

"First: protect children.

"International humanitarian law and international human rights law must be strictly observed and followed.

"Law-enforcement standards must be respected, with lethal force used only when strictly unavoidable to protect life. Specific safeguards must be put in place wherever children may be present.

"The administrative detention of children must end, and all practices concerning Palestinian children in the military justice system must be brought into line with international juvenile justice and child rights standards.

"We echo the call of the Secretary-General in urging Israel to agree and implement an action plan with the United Nations to end and prevent grave violations against children.

"Second: end the forced displacement of Palestinian children and families.

"Member States must use their political and diplomatic influence to prevent further displacement and signal zero tolerance for violence against children, families, and communities.

"Third: protect children's access to education, health care, and other essential services.

"Children must be able to reach school safely. And children requiring medical treatment must be able to reach hospitals and health facilities.

"Lastly: protect humanitarian operations.

"Vital supplies must be allowed into and across the West Bank without unnecessary delay.

"Public services upon which children and families depend must be protected from interruption.

"And humanitarian organizations and their partners must be able to operate safely, independently, and without administrative measures that prevent them from reaching children in need.

"Excellencies … the humanitarian consequences of what is happening in the West Bank are profound.

"But behind every statistic is a child … a child afraid to walk to school … a child recovering from a gunshot wound … a child held in detention … a child watching her family home being demolished …

"And a child sleeping behind corrugated iron because her grandmother is trying to keep fire from coming through the window again.

"These should not be the defining experiences of childhood.

"Children in the West Bank have the same rights as children everywhere: to live, to learn, to be protected, and to imagine a future beyond violence and fear.

"UNICEF will continue to advocate for the protection of all children and to provide humanitarian assistance and protection to every child we can reach.

"But humanitarian organizations cannot create the political conditions that children need to be safe.

"That responsibility rests with Member-States who have the power to change them.

"Thank you."

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Notes for editors:

Multimedia materials available here: https://weshare.unicef.org/Package/2AM4080FDL1J