The conflict in the Middle East has led to a 155 per cent increase in grave violations against children, according to a forthcoming UN report obtained by AFP.

The United Nations’ annual “Children in Armed Conflict” report confirmed the deaths of 2,141 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip in 2023, with 2,051 killed between October 7 and December 31.

It also verified that 43 Israeli children were killed in Israel and the West Bank during the October 7 attack, and a total of 47 Israeli children were abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian groups.

Over 23,000 reports of grave violations against children — 19,887 Palestinian children and 3,900 Israeli children — by all parties to the conflict had yet to be verified.

“We’ve never verified so many violations against children as last year,” said a senior UN official.

“It will take a long, long time to verify,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.