Genocide and War are not the same

Determining the precise percentage of children killed in Ukraine and Gaza is challenging due to varying reporting methods, the rapid pace of events, and difficulties in verification. However, available data from international bodies like the UN and NGOs illustrate a striking difference in the proportion of child casualties between the two conflicts. 

Children killed in Gaza

Children constitute a significantly larger proportion of the total fatalities in the conflict in Gaza than in Ukraine. 

• High proportion of deaths: Multiple reports highlight that children make up a disproportionate share of the deaths in Gaza.
• Confirmed deaths: The Gaza Health Ministry (GHM) reported 19,424 child fatalities as of September 2025. This figure represents 33.8% of identified deaths, with women and children making up a large majority.
• Underreported totals: Aid agencies caution that these figures are likely an undercount, as thousands more are missing and presumed to be buried under rubble. 

Children killed in Ukraine

The number of children killed in Ukraine is lower, both in absolute terms and as a percentage of total deaths, compared to Gaza. 

• Verifiable deaths: Between February 24, 2022, and December 31, 2024, the UN Human Rights Office verified that 669 children were killed in Ukraine. The actual numbers are considered to be higher.
• Percentage of total: For the same period, child fatalities made up approximately 5% of the total verified civilian deaths in Ukraine, according to Statista. 

Factors influencing reporting differences

• Casualty verification: While data collection is difficult in both conflicts, the verification of casualties, particularly in Gaza, is complicated by the collapse of health infrastructure and the large number of bodies under rubble.
• Population demographics: Gaza has a very young population, with approximately 40% of residents under the age of 14. This demographic profile makes a higher proportion of child casualties more likely in conflict.
• Nature of conflict: In its 2025 report, Save the Children noted that the increasing use of explosive weapons in urban areas is killing and injuring children on an unprecedented scale, with Gaza and Ukraine among the deadliest places for children.