Israeli Forces Account for Over Half of Global Civilian Deaths from Explosive Weapons in 2025

The 2025 Explosive Weapons Monitor report, released 10 June 2026, used ACLED and Insecurity Insight data to record at least 22,616 civilian deaths from explosive weapons in 65 countries. Israeli armed forces accounted for 56 % of those deaths, the largest share among state actors; state forces caused 85 % of incidents harming civilians or infrastructure. The 21 % decline in civilian deaths from 2024 reflects cease-fire agreements in Gaza and Lebanon, yet roughly 90 % of attacks on aid, schools, hospitals and markets occurred in the Palestinian territories. The monitor, part of the International Network of Explosive Weapons, includes Action on Armed Violence, Center for Civilians in Conflict, Human Rights Watch, Humanity & Inclusion, PAX and Save the Children.

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last YearCommon DreamsIsrael responsible for over 50% of civilian explosive weapon deaths in 2025

Incidents affecting humanitarian aid rose 52 % to 2,541; attacks on education increased 64 % to 1,416, most in Myanmar, Palestine and Ukraine; 1,272 attacks hit health facilities and 1,082 struck food-water systems. Israeli forces have killed 72,991 Palestinians in Gaza since the Oct 7 2023 Hamas attack and 3,666 in Lebanon since early March 2025.

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last YearCommon DreamsIsrael responsible for over 50% of civilian explosive weapon deaths in 2025

Katherine Young, lead author, warned that civilian suffering follows when explosive weapons are used in populated areas. Alma Taslidžan of Humanity & Inclusion said destroyed schools and hospitals represent lost opportunities and disrupted futures. UNICEF’s Edouard Beigbeder called for investigations and accountability after child casualties in Gaza and the West Bank.

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last Year

The monitor urged implementation of the 2022 Political Declaration on protecting civilians from explosive weapons and singled out eight signatory states—Cambodia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Somalia, South Korea, Turkey and the United States—whose forces caused civilian harm in 2025 despite endorsing the declaration. UNICEF stressed that civilian suffering must be condemned at every level.

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last Year

Attribution of 56 % of civilian deaths to Israeli forces relies on ACLED and Insecurity Insight data; independent verification is limited. The 72,991 Palestinian deaths in Gaza lack comparable breakdowns for other conflicts, leaving uncertainty about casualty distribution across the 65 affected countries.

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives 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.” — Katherine Young, Lead Author, Explosive Weapons Monitor

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last Year

• “When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, civilians suffer,” — Katherine Young, Explosive Weapons Monitor

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last Year

• “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,” — Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa

Israel Killed 56% of 22,600+ Civilians by Explosives Last Year

• “Civilian harm remained severe, with 56% of all recorded civilian deaths attributed to Israeli armed forces,” — Explosive Weapons Monitor report (2025)

Israel responsible for over 50% of civilian explosive weapon deaths in 2025