An annual report reveals Israeli armed forces were responsible for a majority of civilian fatalities from explosive weapons in 2025.
Israel to Blame for 56% of 22,600+ Civilians Killed by Explosive Weapons Globally Last Year "What is particularly alarming is that this harm has become persistent across conflicts worldwide, risking the normalization of civilian suffering on a massive scale," said the report's lead author.
While the overall number of civilians killed by explosive weapons decreased by 21% last year, largely due to Israel scaling back attacks on thein response to ceasefire deals,"the majority—56%—of all global civilian fatalities in 2025 could be attributed to Israeli armed forces, most of which occurred inwere"heavily impacted," the publication says. Countries' armed forces were responsible for the vast majority—85%—of all incidents that reportedly affected civilians or civilian, and camps increased by 52%," to 2,541, last year—and while they were documented in 17 countries and territories,"about 90% of all incidents were recorded in Palestine," the report notes.
Attacks on education increased by 64%, to 1,416; they occurred in 27 places, but were most common in Myanmar, Palestine, and Ukraine. The report also highlights continued attacks on"Every destroyed school, hospital, market, water system, or humanitarian convoy represents far more than damaged infrastructure—it represents opportunities lost, futures disrupted, and communities pushed further from recovery,""Long after the explosions end, civilians continue to live with the consequences of disrupted healthcare, interrupted education, damaged livelihoods, and the daily challenge of rebuilding their lives," Taslidžan emphasized.
"For many, the consequences of explosive weapons become part of everyday life and suffering for years to come. "on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising From the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas into greater effect. , and the United States—that endorsed the declaration but whose armed forces reportedly used explosive weapons that caused civilian harm in 2025.
"The devastating impact of explosive weapons on civilians is both foreseeable and preventable. Yet across numerous conflicts, their continued use has entrenched a pattern of civilian harm that is increasingly treated as routine rather than exceptional," said Katherine Young, the report's lead author and the monitor's research and monitoring manager, in a statement.
"When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, civilians suffer," Young stressed. "What is particularly alarming is that this harm has become persistent across conflicts worldwide, risking the normalization of civilian suffering on a massive scale.
"and Israel launched an illegal war on Iran in February, and have continued despite a new ceasefire agreed to in April—as well as on"We cannot let this become the new normal—children losing their lives to violence should cause global outrage and must be condemned at every level," he continued. "UNICEF calls on the Israeli authorities to take decisive action to protect all Palestinian children.
Authorities must ensure transparent, credible, and robust investigations, as well as accountability whenever children are killed or maimed.
" Since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Israeli forces have slaughtered at least 72,991 Palestinians in Gaza—an assault widely condemned asIt’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements.
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While the overall number of civilians killed by explosive weapons decreased by 21% last year, largely due to Israel scaling back attacks on thein response to ceasefire deals,"the majority—56%—of all global civilian fatalities in 2025 could be attributed to Israeli armed forces, most of which occurred inwere"heavily impacted," the publication says. Countries' armed forces were responsible for the vast majority—85%—of all incidents that reportedly affected civilians or civilian, and camps increased by 52%," to 2,541, last year—and while they were documented in 17 countries and territories,"about 90% of all incidents were recorded in Palestine," the report notes.
Attacks on education increased by 64%, to 1,416; they occurred in 27 places, but were most common in Myanmar, Palestine, and Ukraine. The report also highlights continued attacks on"Every destroyed school, hospital, market, water system, or humanitarian convoy represents far more than damaged infrastructure—it represents opportunities lost, futures disrupted, and communities pushed further from recovery,""Long after the explosions end, civilians continue to live with the consequences of disrupted healthcare, interrupted education, damaged livelihoods, and the daily challenge of rebuilding their lives," Taslidžan emphasized.
"For many, the consequences of explosive weapons become part of everyday life and suffering for years to come. "on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising From the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas into greater effect. , and the United States—that endorsed the declaration but whose armed forces reportedly used explosive weapons that caused civilian harm in 2025.
"The devastating impact of explosive weapons on civilians is both foreseeable and preventable. Yet across numerous conflicts, their continued use has entrenched a pattern of civilian harm that is increasingly treated as routine rather than exceptional," said Katherine Young, the report's lead author and the monitor's research and monitoring manager, in a statement.
"When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, civilians suffer," Young stressed. "What is particularly alarming is that this harm has become persistent across conflicts worldwide, risking the normalization of civilian suffering on a massive scale.
"and Israel launched an illegal war on Iran in February, and have continued despite a new ceasefire agreed to in April—as well as on"We cannot let this become the new normal—children losing their lives to violence should cause global outrage and must be condemned at every level," he continued. "UNICEF calls on the Israeli authorities to take decisive action to protect all Palestinian children.
Authorities must ensure transparent, credible, and robust investigations, as well as accountability whenever children are killed or maimed.
" Since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Israeli forces have slaughtered at least 72,991 Palestinians in Gaza—an assault widely condemned asIsrael Keeps Killing Lebanese Civilians Despite Trump's De-Escalation Claim ›While the overall number of civilians killed by explosive weapons decreased by 21% last year, largely due to Israel scaling back attacks on thein response to ceasefire deals,"the majority—56%—of all global civilian fatalities in 2025 could be attributed to Israeli armed forces, most of which occurred inwere"heavily impacted," the publication says.
Countries' armed forces were responsible for the vast majority—85%—of all incidents that reportedly affected civilians or civilian, and camps increased by 52%," to 2,541, last year—and while they were documented in 17 countries and territories,"about 90% of all incidents were recorded in Palestine," the report notes. Attacks on education increased by 64%, to 1,416; they occurred in 27 places, but were most common in Myanmar, Palestine, and Ukraine.
The report also highlights continued attacks on"Every destroyed school, hospital, market, water system, or humanitarian convoy represents far more than damaged infrastructure—it represents opportunities lost, futures disrupted, and communities pushed further from recovery,""Long after the explosions end, civilians continue to live with the consequences of disrupted healthcare, interrupted education, damaged livelihoods, and the daily challenge of rebuilding their lives," Taslidžan emphasized.
"For many, the consequences of explosive weapons become part of everyday life and suffering for years to come. "on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising From the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas into greater effect. , and the United States—that endorsed the declaration but whose armed forces reportedly used explosive weapons that caused civilian harm in 2025.
"The devastating impact of explosive weapons on civilians is both foreseeable and preventable. Yet across numerous conflicts, their continued use has entrenched a pattern of civilian harm that is increasingly treated as routine rather than exceptional," said Katherine Young, the report's lead author and the monitor's research and monitoring manager, in a statement.
"When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, civilians suffer," Young stressed. "What is particularly alarming is that this harm has become persistent across conflicts worldwide, risking the normalization of civilian suffering on a massive scale.
"and Israel launched an illegal war on Iran in February, and have continued despite a new ceasefire agreed to in April—as well as on"We cannot let this become the new normal—children losing their lives to violence should cause global outrage and must be condemned at every level," he continued. "UNICEF calls on the Israeli authorities to take decisive action to protect all Palestinian children.
Authorities must ensure transparent, credible, and robust investigations, as well as accountability whenever children are killed or maimed.
" Since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Israeli forces have slaughtered at least 72,991 Palestinians in Gaza—an assault widely condemned asIsrael Keeps Killing Lebanese Civilians Despite Trump's De-Escalation Claim ›The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%.
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