GENEVA — A United Nations commission reported this week that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children during military operations in Gaza, allegations that the commission said amounted to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Israel rejected the findings and accused the panel of bias.
The report, released on Tuesday by the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, examined alleged violations against Palestinian children from the start of the conflict following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel through October 2025. The commission said Palestinian children were subjected to killings, injuries, displacement and the destruction of essential services, including healthcare and education.
According to the commission, children accounted for about 30% of those killed in Gaza during the period under review. The report said Israeli forces used high-impact weapons in densely populated areas and documented cases in which children were allegedly targeted directly. Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the evidence indicated that Palestinian children had been “deliberately targeted and killed” by Israeli forces.
The inquiry also examined conditions in the occupied West Bank, where it alleged that Palestinian children faced unlawful killings, detention, mistreatment and other violations that the commission said could constitute war crimes. The report further stated that attacks on hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure had severely affected the welfare and future prospects of Palestinian children.
Israel's government strongly rejected the findings. The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the report as a “libelous sham” and a “propaganda piece,” according to statements reported by international media. Israeli officials said the commission ignored crimes committed by Hamas and failed to account for the broader context of the conflict. Israel has consistently denied accusations that its military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide.
The commission’s findings add to ongoing international scrutiny of the conflict. Previous reports by the same body accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and alleged that senior Israeli officials had incited such acts, allegations that Israel has also rejected.
The report did not carry direct legal consequences, but the commission called on states and international institutions to consider accountability measures under international law. Details regarding any future action by the U.N. Human Rights Council or other international bodies remain unclear.
As of Thursday, neither the United Nations nor international courts had announced new proceedings directly tied to the report. The conflict in Gaza continued amid ongoing diplomatic efforts and humanitarian concerns across the territory.
