In a forthcoming report, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is set to inform the Security Council that both Israel and militant groups such as Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are violating children’s rights amidst their protracted conflict. This annual report, which identifies states and militias that endanger children, aims to bring global attention to these violations. The report outlines severe actions such as the killing and injuring of children, sexual violence, and assaults on schools and hospitals.
In previous years, this report has named other groups like the Kachin Independence Army in Myanmar and Russian forces in Ukraine for similar violations. Including Israel in this report will likely increase global attention and criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, making the already tense relationship between Israel and the United Nations even more strained.
The news of Israel’s upcoming inclusion in the report has stirred strong reactions. Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan expressed strong dismay, suggesting that this decision would only empower Hamas and prolong the conflict. Erdan went further to publicly criticize the head of Guterres’ office in a video shared on social media, underscoring the growing divide.
On the other side, Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the report is a step in the right direction, even though it can’t bring back the children who have died.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the U.N.’s decision, saying it damages the U.N.’s reputation. This issue has united Israeli leaders from different political views in their opposition to the report.
Humanitarian agencies have raised alarms over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where over 1 million Palestinians are at risk of severe hunger due to the ongoing conflict. Restrictions on humanitarian access and the breakdown of local food systems have compounded the crisis.
Despite these challenges, recent analyses show a decrease in the proportion of women and children among civilian casualties in Gaza, indicating potential shifts in Israeli military tactics. However, this change has received little attention from the U.N. and media, and the Gaza Health Ministry, associated with Hamas, has not acknowledged these findings in its public statements.
As the U.N. Security Council prepares to receive Guterres’ report, the international community is closely monitoring developments, anticipating potential actions and their impact on future peace efforts in the region
SKJ