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A displaced Palestinian boy looks through a tear in a tent wall in Gaza City, May 6, 2026. — Reuters
The UN independent inquiry accuses Israeli authorities and security forces of intentionally targeting Palestinian children, resulting in acts classified as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Gaza, with additional war crimes in the occupied West Bank. The report examines violations against Palestinian children since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The findings reveal that approximately 30% of those killed during the Gaza conflict were children. A prior report from September alleged that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, with high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, inciting such actions. Israel responded sharply, dismissing the report as “defamatory” and emphasizing that children deserve protection, accusing the commission of overlooking Hamas’s brutal tactics.
According to the UN, Palestinian children were deliberately targeted and killed even after a ceasefire was declared in October 2025. This was seen as evidence of genocidal intent by Israeli forces to wipe out or weaken the Palestinian population in Gaza. Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the commission, stated, “The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by Israeli security forces.”
Regarding child fatalities, the report highlights that the proportion of children among conflict casualties has increased compared to previous conflicts. Between October 7, 2023, and October 7, 2025, over 20,179 children lost their lives, making up about 30% of the total death toll. In earlier hostilities during 2008–2009 and 2014, children accounted for roughly 24% of casualties. Despite rising child casualties, Israeli forces continued to employ high-impact munitions and wide-area weapons in crowded residential areas, actions that the commission views as intentional, aimed at civilians perceived to be linked to Hamas or other armed groups.
Israel’s mission in Geneva defended its tactics, emphasizing efforts to minimize harm to children during conflicts and strongly denying deliberate targeting. Muralidhar added that targeting children undermines the future and existence of the Palestinian people.
The report also detailed how Israeli-imposed conditions, including ongoing violence, displacement, and a blockade restricting aid, food, and medicine, have severely impacted children’s health and development, leading to preventable deaths, trauma, and decreased well-being. Healthcare facilities and reproductive services had been attacked, affecting newborn survival and increasing miscarriages. Nearly all Gaza children are reported to need psychological support.
Israel’s response criticized the report for not mentioning its role in supporting vaccinations, facilitating medical aid, and establishing field hospitals, countering claims that Hamas diverts humanitarian aid and fuel, allegations Hamas has denied.
In the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the commission observed a significant rise in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian children, including systematic abuses such as forced strip searches, beatings, and food deprivation during arrests and detention. These acts, the report states, constitute crimes against humanity, such as torture and inhumane treatment, causing great suffering and injury. Israel’s rebuttal argued that the report lacked context regarding the constant threat of terrorism that its security forces respond to.
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