UN Report: Gaza’s Children Face Worst Conditions Worldwide Amid Ongoing Israeli Violations
UN Report: Gaza’s Children Face Worst Conditions Worldwide Amid Ongoing Israeli Violations
A new United Nations report has confirmed that the conditions of children in the Gaza Strip are the worst globally amid the ongoing conflict waged by Israeli forces, noting that the level of violence against children has reached unprecedented levels. The annual report from the UN Secretary-General on children and armed conflict for 2024, released today, Friday, June 20th, revealed that Israeli forces have committed grave violations against children, including killing, maiming, detention, using them as human shields, and direct attacks on schools and hospitals.
The report indicated that Israel will remain on the “blacklist” of states and groups violating children’s rights in armed conflicts due to “killing, maiming children, and attacking vital civilian facilities,” as described in the report. The report documented 8,554 serious violations against 2,944 children in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem within just one year, including the detention of 951 children, among them 602 in the West Bank, 259 in Jerusalem, and 90 in Gaza.
Additionally, the report documented the use of 27 children as human shields by Israeli forces during their military operations, the injury of 1,507 children with disabilities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, along with 54 others injured by settlers. Concerning restrictions on humanitarian aid, the report noted more than 5,000 instances of aid obstruction, including 2,263 times in the Gaza Strip and 2,828 times in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The United Nations Secretary-General called for Israel to be held accountable for the crimes and violations committed against children, reiterating the necessity of respecting international humanitarian law and protecting civilians, especially children, as well as educational and health facilities.
This report arrives as the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip continues, ignoring international calls and decisions of the International Court of Justice, amidst worsening humanitarian tragedy, which has so far resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, and more than 11,000 missing, most of them women and children.
