UN report accuses Israel of targeting Gaza children

A new United Nations inquiry has ignited international debate after accusing Israeli authorities and security forces of deliberately targeting Palestinian children during the Gaza conflict, actions the commission says amount to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Israel has strongly rejected the allegations, describing the report as biased and defamatory.

The findings were released on Tuesday by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. The report examined the impact of the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

According to the commission, children accounted for nearly one-third of all deaths recorded in Gaza between October 2023 and October 2025. The report estimates that at least 20,179 Palestinian children were killed during the two-year period, a proportion significantly higher than in previous Gaza conflicts.

The commission argued that the scale of child casualties, combined with continued military operations in densely populated civilian areas, demonstrated a pattern of intentional targeting. It stated that Israeli forces repeatedly used powerful munitions with wide-area effects despite mounting evidence of civilian and child deaths.

“The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed,” Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said in a statement accompanying the report. He added that attacks on children undermine the future of the Palestinian people by damaging an entire generation.

One of the report’s most serious conclusions is that Israeli actions reflected what the commission described as “genocidal intent.” Investigators argued that children were targeted collectively because the civilian population was viewed as being associated with Hamas and other armed groups.

The report also paints a grim picture of living conditions in Gaza. It says repeated displacement, widespread destruction, and restrictions on humanitarian assistance severely affected children’s health and development. Investigators documented cases of malnutrition, preventable deaths, psychological trauma, and growing mental health concerns among young people.

Particular concern was raised about attacks on healthcare facilities and reproductive health services. The inquiry noted that disruptions to medical care contributed to complications for pregnant women, increased miscarriages, and threatened the survival of newborn infants. It further reported that nearly every child in Gaza now requires some form of psychological support.

Israel swiftly rejected the findings. In a response issued by its mission in Geneva, Israeli officials dismissed the report as a “libellous sham” and accused the commission of ignoring the actions of Hamas. Israel maintained that its military takes extensive measures to minimize civilian harm and strongly denied intentionally targeting children.

Israeli representatives also criticized the report for failing to acknowledge efforts to facilitate vaccinations, allow medical personnel into Gaza, and establish field hospitals. They further accused Hamas of diverting humanitarian aid and fuel supplies intended for civilians and healthcare facilities—claims that Hamas has repeatedly denied.

Beyond Gaza, the inquiry examined conditions in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Investigators reported a sharp increase in violence against Palestinian children and documented allegations of torture, forced stripping, beatings, food deprivation, and other forms of mistreatment during detention.

The commission concluded that some of these acts amounted to crimes against humanity, including torture and other inhumane treatment causing severe suffering.

The report is likely to intensify international scrutiny of the conflict and add pressure on global institutions to address accountability, civilian protection, and the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Palestinians. However, with Israel rejecting the findings and continuing to challenge the commission’s conclusions, the controversy surrounding the report is expected to remain a major point of contention in international diplomacy.