UN commission accuses Israel of genocide for targeting Gaza children
A commission of inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council has released a report alleging that Israeli forces have deliberately killed and harmed Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. The commission claims these actions amount to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
According to the report, Israeli authorities used precision weapons, including drones and snipers, to target children’s vital organs and systematically struck schools, residential buildings and displacement camps. It also notes that child casualties continued after the October 2025 ceasefire, with the force’s disregard for the truce and for international law.
The commission highlighted that 21,280 children had been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023, a figure considered reliable by the UN. It also condemned the destruction of pediatric hospitals and the use of starvation as a method of warfare, citing acute malnutrition among Gaza’s children.
Israel’s foreign ministry reacted by calling the report “libellous sham” and a “propaganda piece.” It claims the findings are “biased and false,” and that the investigations single out Israel unfairly while ignoring Hamas’ use of children as human shields. Israeli officials insist their operations are conducted in self‑defence and in accordance with international law, and that they take measures to minimise civilian harm.
The report’s findings come against a backdrop of ongoing ceasefire violations. While Gaza’s health ministry reports more than 1,020 Palestinians killed since the agreement, the Israeli military claims four soldiers have died.
International responses have been split. South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice accuses Israel of genocide, but the court is still hearing evidence. Human rights groups argue that the UN commission’s documentation of systematic targeting and harm to children constitutes credible evidence of war crimes.
Overall, the report has intensified global debate on the legality of Israel’s military operations, the protection of civilians, and the prospects for a lasting resolution to the Gaza conflict.
