Israel deliberately targeting children in ongoing genocide against Palestinians, UN inquiry finds

Israeli forces continue to commit genocide against Palestinians by deliberately targeting children in the Gaza Strip, an independent United Nations Commission of Inquiry has found. In a report published on Tuesday, the commission — which last year concluded Israel had committed genocide in Gaza — found that Israeli military operations have continued, causing “unprecedented death, injury and trauma” to Palestinian children. The commission describes what it says is the deliberate targeting of children as a key indicator of Israeli authorities’ genocidal intent to destroy the Palestinian people, including after the ceasefire in Gaza took effect. “Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, children continue to be killed and seriously injured, with continued disregard by Israel for the ceasefire and for the protection owed to Palestinian children under international law,” said Srinivasan Muralidhar, chairman of the commission. The Israeli government has repeatedly denied committing genocide, and officials denounced Tuesday’s UN findings. Israel's Foreign Ministry called it “a propaganda piece as outrageous as its previous ones,” while Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, said it was a “political blood libel disguised as a UN document”. “Instead of addressing Hamas’ crimes, the October 7 massacre, the hostages, and Hamas’ cynical use of children and civilians as human shields, the commission has once again chosen to place Israel in the dock.” US official says Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreed, as Iran talks delayed Trump criticises Israel as Iran says Lebanon withdrawal required for peace The report details conditions Israel has imposed on Gaza since the ceasefire, including widespread attacks and the blocking of humanitarian and medical aid, which it said caused “multi-layered harm to Palestinian children’s survival, health and development”. It documents what it describes as a systematic pattern of Israeli attacks on hospitals, health clinics, and reproductive facilities, with devastating short and long-term consequences for children’s physical and psychological well-being. The US-backed ceasefire came into effect in October , ending two years of war in Gaza. However, the report noted that “hostilities did not cease but rather were reduced”. Eight months on, Israel has carried out near-daily airstrikes, killing over 1,000 Palestinians, including over 250 children, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israel has accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and refusing to lay down its arms. The commission describes what it says is the deliberate targeting of children as a key indicator of Israeli authorities’ genocidal intent. Credit: AP Most of Gaza’s population still lives in tents, with Israel blocking reconstruction materials and heavy equipment over Hamas’ refusal to disarm. An international security force was supposed to deploy to Gaza under US President Donald Trump’s peace plan, with Israel gradually withdrawing. Instead, Israel has expanded its territorial control; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel’s forces now control 70% of the enclave. The report also focused on the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, accusing Israel of war crimes and highlighting “a sharp increase in violence” against Palestinian children by Israeli settlers. Subscribe free to our weekly newsletter for exclusive and original coverage from ITV News. Direct to your inbox every Friday morning. It concluded that the Israeli military has “repeatedly employed unreasonable, excessive and punitive force against children as a tool of control, deterrence and collective intimidation” in the West Bank. Earlier this year, ITV News revealed shocking evidence of the growing number of attacks by Israeli extremists against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the report’s findings, saying its importance lies in “reaffirming the international community’s failure to stop the violations committed by the occupying power and to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes against Palestinian children”. The commission called on the Israeli government to “immediately halt military operations in Gaza,” and to abide by its “special obligations towards children under international law”. From Westminster to Washington DC - our political experts are across all the latest key talking points. Listen to the latest episode below...