UN reports indicate Israel deliberately killed Palestinian children

A United Nations independent commission of inquiry finds Israeli authorities and security forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian children, resulting in what the UN calls a "genocide."

In a latest report released by a UN independent commission of inquiry on Tuesday revealed Israeli authorities and security forces have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, with nearly 30% being children. The report details that children continued to be targeted even following a ceasefire.

The UN Independent International Commision of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory says evidence shows Israel deliberately targeted critical infrastructure that served children, including neonatal and maternity care centres, orphanages, and educational facilities in Gaza and the West bank. "Large-yield bombs" were used to cause "maximum casualties".

Srinivasan Muralidhar, UN Commission of Inquiry Chair, says: "Children are being killed mainly in two ways. One, through airstrikes using high-yield explosives with wide area effects. And second, using quadcopters, drones, and sniper rifles that specifically target and kill children. To their head and upper body."

Blockade and siege imposed by Isreal have led to starvation. These directly impacted the survival of newborns and Palestinians' reproductive future.

Palestinian children have been stripped of any sense of safety and future. The distruction of their health, education, and development is irreversible. It erased their childhood and will impact them over lifetime.

The report also finds Israel security force have arrested Palestinian children and imposed sexual violence and other severe form of mistreatment against children as part of the collective shaming and oppression.

Having identified military units within Israel security forces responsible, the independent commission issued recommendations to Israel to ensure accountability for such crimes.

Chris Sidoti, Commissioner of the UN Commission of Inquiry, says: "There can be no doubt in anyone who reads today's report that every international legal norm has been violated by the actions of the Israeli authorities towards Palestinian children and they need to be held accountable."

Israel's mission in Geneva rejected the findings and accused the commission of defamation, saying the report did not take into account Hamas's actions.