UN Commission Accuses Israel of Targeting Palestinian Children in Gaza
A recent report from an independent UN commission of inquiry has accused Israel of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, a claim that amounts to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The commission found that Israeli forces have inflicted “death and severe bodily and mental harm” on hundreds of thousands of children and have continued attacks even after the October ceasefire.
According to the commission’s findings, over 21,280 children have died in Israeli attacks since the war began in October 2023. The report says that Israel has used precision weapons—including drones and snipers—directly against a child’s vital organs and has struck schools, hospitals and displacement camps in densely populated areas.
Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the report as a “libellous sham” and a “propaganda piece.” It states that the commission lacks a credible verification mechanism and that the report fails to recognize the risk posed by Hamas using children as human shields.
The commission also cites systematic violations in the West Bank, including the arrest, torture and sexual abuse of Palestinian children, as well as restrictions on humanitarian aid that have led to malnutrition among Gaza’s population.
The findings come amidst ongoing international debate, with the International Court of Justice hearing a separate case brought by South Africa that accuses Israeli forces of genocide. While the case may take years to conclude, the UN report casts a stark light on the humanitarian consequences for children caught in the conflict.
