The findings were released on Tuesday by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. The commission said it reviewed alleged abuses against Palestinian minors since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023.
According to the report, children accounted for roughly 30% of fatalities in Gaza during the conflict period. It stated that at least 20,179 children were killed between October 7, 2023 and October 7, 2025, a proportion the commission described as significantly higher than in previous rounds of fighting in the enclave.
The inquiry alleged that Israeli forces used heavy explosive weapons in densely populated civilian areas despite the high number of child casualties. It argued that the pattern of attacks indicated intentional conduct and suggested that children were targeted collectively based on perceptions of association between civilians and Hamas or other armed groups.
In addition, the report claimed that children continued to be killed even after a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, which the commission said contributed to its assessment regarding intent.
Commission chair Srinivasan Muralidhar stated that the evidence suggested Palestinian children were systematically targeted, adding that such actions undermined the long-term survival and development of the Palestinian population in Gaza.
The report also highlighted wider humanitarian conditions, saying prolonged military operations, repeated displacement, and restrictions on essential supplies such as food, fuel, and medicine had severely affected children’s health. It noted rising cases of malnutrition, trauma, and psychological distress among minors across the territory.
Israeli representatives in Geneva rejected the allegations, describing the findings as misleading and politically motivated. They said Israel takes measures to limit harm to civilians, including children, and accused the commission of ignoring what they described as Hamas’s tactics and the broader security context.
The response also pointed to humanitarian steps taken by Israel, including the facilitation of medical aid deliveries, vaccination programs, and the establishment of temporary field hospitals.
The commission further reported increased violence in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, where it said Palestinian children faced rising incidents of abuse during arrests and detention. These included allegations of beatings, deprivation, forced stripping, and other forms of mistreatment, which the report said may constitute torture and other inhumane acts.
Israeli authorities dismissed these findings as lacking context, arguing that security operations were conducted in response to ongoing militant threats in the region.
The report concluded by calling for accountability for alleged violations and warning of the long-term humanitarian consequences for children affected by the conflict.
Goodness Anunobi
