Violence on children: United Nations keeps Israel on 'blacklist'
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United Nations: The United Nations has kept Israel on its “blacklist” for committing abuses against children in armed conflict. This is when its armed offensive in Gaza continues for nearly 20 months.
The listing came out on Thursday as the UN published its fresh report on violence against children in conflict zones. The report said these abuses reached “unprecedented levels” in 2024, with the most number of violations committed against children in the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank by the Israeli army.
UN cited 7,188 verified grave violations by its military, including the killing of 1,259 Palestinian children and injury to 941 others in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry has reported much higher figures, but the UN has strict criteria and said its process of verification is ongoing, the Associated Press reported.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' annual report on Children in Armed Conflict detailed “a staggering 25% surge in grave violations” against children globally under the age of 18 from 2023, when the number of such violations rose by 21%.
Guterres said he is “appalled by the intensity of grave violations against children in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel” and “deeply alarmed” by the increase in violations, especially the high number of children killed by Israeli forces.
In 2024, the UN chief said, “Children bore the brunt of relentless hostilities and indiscriminate attacks and were affected by the disregard for ceasefires and peace agreements and by deepening humanitarian crises.”
He cited warfare strategies that included attacks on children, the deployment of increasingly destructive and explosive weapons in populated areas, and “the systematic exploitation of children for combat.”
Guterres said the United Nations verified 41,370 grave violations against children — 36,221 committed in 2024 and 5,149 committed earlier but verified last year. The violations include killing, maiming, recruiting and abducting children, sexual violence against them, attacking schools and hospitals and denying youngsters access to humanitarian aid.
