We must protect Palestinian children from being killed | Letter

The world should be outraged about escalating violence in the West Bank, particularly against children, writes Dr Philip Goodwin of Unicef UK

Your report (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/29/is-it-israels-aim-to-kill-our-children-west-bank-parents-implore-end-to-idfs-child-killings-with-impunity">How children in West Bank are being killed by Israel ‘without accountability’, 29 June) resonated deeply.

As the chief executive of Unicef UK, I have just returned from meeting Palestinian families and children across the West Bank – many of whom carried Unicef backpacks just like Mohammad al-Halaq in your report – who spoke of the rising fear and violence that have become part of their daily lives.

I have worked in humanitarian development for more than two decades, but nothing could have prepared me for what I witnessed there.

In Hebron’s militarised H2 area, movement is heavily restricted, children must pass checkpoints to get to school and their usual route is permanently closed.

A group of mothers I met described routine humiliation and intimidation.

The streets were empty, people afraid to be outside.