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UN inquiry accuses Israel of targeting Palestinian children in Gaza
Palestinian Najia Abu Lehia sits with her grandchildren inside a tent at a camp for displaced people, Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, 18 May, 2026
Reuters
A United Nations enquiry has accused Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, saying the actions amounted to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, while also documenting war crimes against children in the occupied West Bank.
The report by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry examined violations against Palestinian children since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 and found that children accounted for around 30% of those killed in Gaza.
The commission said at least 20,179 Palestinian children were killed between October 2023 and October 2025, a proportion higher than in previous Gaza conflicts, and argued that Israel’s use of heavy munitions in densely populated areas indicated intentional targeting.
It also said Israel’s blockade and repeated displacement had caused severe malnutrition, trauma and preventable deaths among children, with nearly all children in Gaza now requiring psychological support.
In the West Bank, the enquiry documented a sharp rise in settler violence against children and alleged torture, beatings and sexual abuse of Palestinian minors in detention.
A Palestinian youth carries sweet snacks for sale, as people spend time on a beach during a hot day in Gaza City, 12 May, 2026
Reuters
Israel rejects findings
Israel rejected the report, calling it a “libellous sham” and accusing the commission of ignoring Hamas’ conduct during the war.
Its mission in Geneva said Israel “consistently strives to minimise harm to children” and said the report omitted its efforts to facilitate medical aid, vaccinations and field hospitals.
UN Watch, a Geneva-based monitoring group focused on UN conduct, also criticised the report, saying it failed to provide verified evidence that Israeli forces deliberately selected children as targets, arguing that civilian child deaths alone do not prove intent.
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