A UN commission of inquiry has determined that Israeli military forces are deliberately targeting children in the Gaza Strip as part of an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian population. The independent commission, which previously concluded that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, issued a new report on Tuesday highlighting that military operations continue to inflict unprecedented trauma, injuries, and death upon children.
According to the commission, the intentional targeting of children serves as a primary indicator of genocidal intent to destroy the Palestinian people, a pattern that has persisted even following the implementation of a ceasefire. Srinivasan Muralidhar, the chairman of the commission, stated that children are still being killed and seriously wounded, demonstrating Israel’s continued disregard for ceasefire agreements and the protection mandated for minors under international law.
The Israeli government has strongly rejected these findings. The Foreign Ministry labeled the report a piece of propaganda, while Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, dismissed the document as a political blood libel. Danon argued that the commission has unfairly targeted Israel rather than addressing crimes committed by Hamas, the October 7 massacre, the situation of hostages, or Hamas’ alleged use of civilians and children as human shields.
The report outlines how Israel has restricted Gaza since the ceasefire, noting that ongoing attacks and the obstruction of medical and humanitarian aid have caused multi-layered harm to the survival and development of Palestinian children. Furthermore, it documents systematic attacks on healthcare facilities, including clinics and hospitals, which have resulted in severe psychological and physical consequences for the youth. While a US-brokered ceasefire ended two years of intense war in October 2025, the commission noted that hostilities were reduced rather than halted.
In the eight months since the ceasefire, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that Israeli airstrikes have killed over 1,000 people, including more than 250 children. Israel contends that Hamas has repeatedly violated the ceasefire by refusing to disarm. Currently, the majority of Gaza’s population resides in tents, as Israel continues to block reconstruction equipment. Although an international security force was proposed under a US peace plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that Israeli forces now maintain control over 70% of the enclave.
The military’s territorial control is enforced through shifting boundary lines on a map, such as the temporary “yellow line” and the newly established “orange line,” which restrict Palestinian movement. Residents attempting to cross these zones face the risk of being shot, and the shifting nature of these boundaries makes navigation difficult, especially for children. The report also addressed conditions in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, citing a sharp rise in settler violence and accusing the military of using excessive force against children for intimidation and control. Data from the rights group B’Tselem indicates that 236 Palestinian children have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, and the UN commission noted frequent arbitrary detentions of children in both territories.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the findings, noting that they highlight the international community’s failure to stop these violations and hold those responsible accountable. The commission has called for an immediate halt to military operations in Gaza and urged UN member states to impose sanctions, stop arms transfers to Israel, and arrest officials wanted by the International Criminal Court.
