UN blacklists Israeli military for child rights violations

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced the decision to add the Israeli military and security forces to the “blacklist” for harming children in conflict zones.

The “Children and Armed Conflict Report” for 2023, containing this decision and not yet publicly released, has surfaced. The report detailed human rights violations committed by Israel during its operations in Gaza since Oct. 7.

Surge in violence against children

The report highlighted a significant increase in violence against children in conflict zones in 2023, noting a 21% rise in severe violations. Specifically, incidents causing death and injury to children increased by 35% compared to the previous year. The report recorded 32,990 severe violations against children in 2023.

The report documented that 5,301 children were killed, 6,348 were injured, 8,655 were recruited by armed groups, 5,205 were denied humanitarian aid, 2,491 were detained because of connections with armed groups, and 4,356 were abducted.

Gaza, occupied territories

In Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, violations against children by Israeli forces and settlers reached 7,837, affecting 4,247 Palestinian children and 113 Israeli children. The Israeli military was responsible for 5,698 of these violations. The report also mentioned the detention of 906 Palestinian children, with allegations of mistreatment and sexual abuse.

Humanitarian access blocked

The report underscored that the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza and the occupied territories hindered children’s access to humanitarian aid. Alongside Israeli forces, Hamas’ military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing, Al-Quds Brigades, were also listed for violations in 2023, with conditions worsening in recent months.

Unprecedented death, destruction

A staggering 23,000 severe violations from the last quarter of 2023 in Gaza await confirmation. Secretary-General Guterres expressed his horror at the number of children killed and injured by Israeli forces in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, calling the scale of death and destruction unprecedented.

Global violations

The report listed Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, Nigeria and Sudan as the areas with the most severe violations against children. It also notes Russia’s security forces’ continued presence on the list because of violations in Ukraine, where 938 severe incidents were recorded.

State vs. non-state actors

State forces were identified as the primary perpetrators of child deaths and injuries, while non-state actors were responsible for 50% of severe violations.

The report highlighted that boys are more frequently recruited by armed groups and are more likely to be killed or injured, while girls face higher rates of sexual violence.