An Israeli diplomat has confirmed the UN’s decision to add Israel to the list, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability. The inclusion of Israel on this list underscores the international community’s growing concern over the treatment of children in conflict zones.
Israel has been added to the global list of states and armed groups accused of violating children’s rights, as confirmed by Gilad Erdan, Israel’s UN envoy. This decision by the United Nations comes after eight months of conflict in Gaza, during which an estimated 13,000 children were among the 36,500 fatalities. The announcement coincides with the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a UN school in central Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 40 Palestinians, including children.
Human rights officials have also implicated Hamas in the report for its involvement in the killing and abduction of children during an attack on Israel on October 7, which claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 Israelis.
Erdan expressed shock and disgust at the decision to include Israel on this year’s list, deeming it “shameful.” The report, part of a broader assessment of children and armed conflict, is set to be presented to the UN Security Council next Friday.
The report encompasses a range of violations against children, including killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction or recruitment, denial of aid access, and targeting of schools and hospitals.
Compiled by Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, the report aims to publicly identify and condemn parties involved in conflicts, to discourage violence against children.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the UN had “added itself to the black list of history” by aligning with “Hamas murderers.”
Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned of potential repercussions on Israel’s relations with the strained UN. Israel is refusing to engage with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary organization providing aid to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
Ezequiel Heffes, the director of the human rights group Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, noted instances of verified violations by both Israeli government forces and Palestinian armed groups in previous years, despite their absence from the list.
The Gaza Strip, a densely populated Palestinian territory, has been the focal point of intense Israeli military assaults and conflicts for years. Thousands of Palestinian children have been caught in the crossfire, facing grave risks to their safety and well-being. The UN’s decision to blacklist Israel serves as a recognition of the alarming number of child casualties resulting from the ongoing hostilities.
Israeli military actions in Gaza have sparked widespread condemnation and calls for restraint from the international community. The targeting of civilian areas, including schools and residential neighborhoods, has led to numerous civilian casualties, with children bearing the brunt of the violence.
The inclusion of Israel on the UN’s blacklist is a significant step towards holding accountable those responsible for violations of children’s rights in conflict zones. It sends a clear message that actions resulting in the loss of innocent lives, particularly those of children, will not be tolerated.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, cautioned that the decision could further strain his country’s already tense relations with the UN. As a consequence, Israel has opted to refrain from engaging with the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary entity responsible for delivering aid to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
UN staff members have alleged that Israel was omitted from previous years’ lists of offenders due to political pressure from Israeli officials.
Ezequiel Heffes, director of the human rights group Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, stated that there have been instances in past years where both Israeli government forces and Palestinian armed groups were found to have committed verified violations, yet they were not included in the list.
Heffes emphasized that once a state or group is cited in the UN report for violations, the UN is expected to engage with them, urging them to take measures to prevent future violations.
The UN had been in discussions in previous years with both the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Palestinian armed groups, attempting to persuade them to minimize harm to children.
Heffes highlighted the significance of this framework, stating that it is designed to protect children from the impacts of armed conflict.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s UN envoy, revealed that he was informed of the decision by the chief of staff to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Erdan expressed his dismay and disgust at the decision, labeling it as shameful. He defended Israel’s military as the most moral army globally and criticized the decision for allegedly aiding terrorists and rewarding Hamas.
