The Israeli military has been placed on a United Nations list of entities accused of committing violations against children in conflict zones.
This decision, confirmed by Israel’s UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, on Friday, has ignited substantial controversy.
The annual report by the UN Secretary-General, which includes this new listing, documents offences such as the killing of children, denial of access to humanitarian aid, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
This report will be presented to the UN Security Council next week.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has condemned the decision, warning of potential serious repercussions for Israel’s relationship with the UN, as reported by the BBC.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized the UN, stating that it has placed itself on the “blacklist of history.”
He defended the Israeli Defense Forces as “the most moral army in the world.”
Conversely, a spokesman for Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, welcomed the UN’s move, seeing it as a step towards accountability for what he termed Israel’s crimes against Palestinian children.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties.
According to Israel’s National Council for the Child, 1,200 Israelis, including 38 children, were killed in Hamas attacks on October 7th of last year.
In response, Israeli bombardments in Gaza have resulted in thousands of deaths, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reporting 36,731 fatalities, including many children.
Recent UN figures estimate that at least 7,797 children have been killed in Gaza, based on identified bodies. Israel has criticized the UN for using data from the Hamas-run health ministry, according to the BBC.
Israeli air strikes continue to cause casualties, with a recent strike on a Gaza school reportedly killing at least 35 people, including 14 children.
Humanitarian organizations have highlighted the severe situation in Gaza, where significant delays in aid deliveries have worsened the crisis.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees and other groups report that malnutrition and dehydration are claiming children’s lives amid the ongoing conflict and displacement.
The inclusion of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on the UN’s list, alongside the Israeli military, underscores the complexity and mutual accusations in this prolonged conflict.
The forthcoming Security Council presentation will likely intensify the debate over accountability and protection of children in war zones.
