GENEVA, June 23 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – An independent United Nations inquiry released on Tuesday concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The report, issued by the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, examined violations against minors since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023. The findings state that the deliberate targeting of children is a key element of genocidal intent to destroy the Palestinian group in Gaza.
Escalation in Child Fatalities
Data from the report indicates that 30% of all those killed in the Gaza war have been children. Between October 7, 2023, and October 7, 2025, at least 20,179 children were killed. This proportion of fatalities is higher than in previous conflicts, such as those in 2008 to 2009 and 2014, where children made up approximately 24% of deaths.
The commission noted that Israeli forces continued to use high-payload munitions and weapons with wide-area effects in densely populated residential areas, despite the clear presence of children. Investigators suggested that these attacks were intentional, reflecting a belief among Israeli forces that the civilian population as a whole is associated with Hamas and other armed groups.
Statements on Genocidal Intent
The commission chair, Srinivasan Muralidhar, emphasized the impact of these military actions on the future of the population.
“The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by the Israeli security forces,” Muralidhar said.
According to the report, these actions undermine the capacity of the Palestinian people to exist and determine their future. The inquiry found that children were targeted even after a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025. Beyond direct attacks, the report highlighted that conditions imposed by Israel, including widespread destruction, displacement, and the blockade of aid, food, and medicine, caused preventable deaths and severe trauma.
Conditions in the West Bank
The commission also documented a significant increase in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian children in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Evidence was found of torture, including sexual and gender-based violence, during mass arrests and detentions.
The report detailed that children, particularly boys, were subjected to systematic mistreatment while in military custody. This included forced stripping, beatings, and food deprivation. The commission concluded that this treatment constitutes the crimes against humanity of torture and other inhumane acts, resulting in serious injury or great suffering for the detainees.
Rejection by Israeli Authorities
The Israeli mission in Geneva rejected the findings of the inquiry, labeling the document a defamatory advocacy report. In an official statement, the mission dismissed the inquiry as a libelous sham.
Israeli officials argued that the report failed to address the tactics used by Hamas, such as operating within civilian spaces and using children as human shields. The mission maintained that Israel consistently strives to minimize harm to children, even in conflict situations.
Furthermore, the rebuttal claimed that the inquiry omitted information regarding Israel’s role in facilitating vaccinations, medical staff entry, and the establishment of field hospitals. Israel accused Hamas of systematically diverting humanitarian aid and fuel intended for medical facilities, an allegation that Hamas has previously rejected.
The report provided details on the secondary effects of the conflict, noting that attacks on healthcare and reproductive facilities have severely compromised the survival of newborns. The commission reported an increase in miscarriages and birth defects throughout the conflict zone.
Almost all children in Gaza were identified as requiring psychological support due to the ongoing trauma of the war. The report warned that the combination of direct violence and the degradation of essential life-sustaining conditions has created a demographic crisis, affecting both the physical health and the developmental future of the Palestinian children in the region.
