UN inquiry says Israel directly targeted children in Gaza

GENEVA: A United Nations inquiry on Tuesday said Israeli security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children during the Gaza conflict, concluding that the actions amounted to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The findings also extended to alleged violations in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The report was issued by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, which examined alleged violations against Palestinian children since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023. It said around 30 per cent of those killed in Gaza were children, or at least 20,179 minors over the two-year period reviewed.

Israeli authorities rejected the findings, calling the report “defamatory” and a “libelous sham”, and said its operations target Hamas infrastructure while seeking to minimise civilian harm. Israel’s mission in Geneva said the report ignored Hamas tactics and the broader context of the conflict.

Findings on Gaza

The commission said Palestinian children were deliberately targeted and killed, including after a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, describing this as evidence of genocidal intent.

It said Israeli forces used high-impact munitions in densely populated areas despite rising child casualties, adding that such attacks indicated intent given the scale of deaths.

The report also cited the wider humanitarian situation, including repeated displacement, damage to hospitals and restrictions on aid, food and medicine, which it said had severely affected children’s health and development. It added that nearly all children in Gaza required psychological support.

Allegations in the West Bank

In the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the inquiry reported a rise in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian children. It also documented allegations of torture, including sexual and gender-based violence, during mass arrests and detention.

The commission said treatment of children in detention constituted crimes against humanity, including torture and other inhumane acts causing severe suffering. Israeli authorities rejected the findings, saying they did not reflect the security threats faced in the territory and omitting key context.