The United Nations’ human rights commission has labeled Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip as genocide, specifically citing deliberate attacks on Palestinian children.
The inquiry’s newest report claims that Israeli authorities and security forces carried out systematic actions that inflicted death, severe bodily and mental harm on hundreds of thousands of children—despite a ceasefire agreed in October 2025. These acts are seen as part of a deliberate strategy to undermine the future of Palestinians in Gaza through targeted violence.
According to the commission, Israel has used precision weapons, ranging from drones to snipers, to strike at children’s vital organs and high‑impact munition against residential buildings, schools, and displacement camps. The report also highlights the targeting of neonatal and pediatric hospitals, severely disrupting access to life‑sustaining care for children.
Israel’s foreign ministry has responded by calling the report a “libellous sham” and accusing it of being a propaganda piece. It denies any intent of genocide, framing its operations as defensive measures against Hamas allies and the securing of Israeli hostages.
The commission additionally accuses Israel of failing to protect Palestinian children from attacks by its soldiers and settlers in the West Bank, and of subjecting them to arrests, torture, and sexual abuse in detention facilities.
International voices note that the UN health data—used by the UN as reliable—records over 73,000 civilian deaths in Gaza, including more than 21,000 children, since the 2023 offensive. These figures underscore the humanitarian toll cited by the commission.
With the International Court of Justice currently hearing a South Africa‑brought case that also alleges genocide, the UN report fuels a growing debate over accountability and the application of international humanitarian law in the region.
