UN adds Israel to global list of offenders that harm children

The United Nations has added Israel to its annual "list of shame" of states and armed groups that commit grave violations against children in conflict zones. This decision, announced on June 7, 2024, has sparked a furious response from Israeli officials and ignited a broader debate about the conduct of military operations in conflict areas.

The inclusion of Israel in the UN's blacklist follows an eight-month-long conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 36,500 people, including more than 13,000 children. The conflict has seen extensive bombing campaigns by Israeli forces, targeting various civilian infrastructures such as schools, hospitals, and refugee camps. The most recent and tragic incident involved the bombing of a UN school in central Gaza, which killed over 40 Palestinians, including children.

The UN report, compiled by Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General's special representative for children and armed conflict, documents various forms of violations against children. These include killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction, denial of humanitarian aid, and attacks on schools and hospitals. The report aims to name and shame parties to conflicts in the hope of deterring future violence against children.

Israel's inclusion on the list has been met with strong condemnation from its officials. Gilad Erdan, Israel's UN envoy, expressed his shock and dismay, calling the decision "shameful." He asserted that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are the most moral army in the world and accused the UN of aiding terrorists and rewarding Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed these sentiments, stating that the UN had "added itself to the blacklist of history" by supporting what he termed "Hamas murderers."

Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that this decision would further strain Israel's already tense relations with the UN. He criticized the UN for what he perceived as an anti-Semitic stance and accused the organization of ignoring Israel's right to self-defense. Katz's comments reflect a broader sentiment within the Israeli government that the UN's decision is politically motivated and unjust.

The decision has also drawn reactions from international human rights organizations. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch welcomed the move, with Amnesty's Secretary-General Agnes Callamard stating that the inclusion of Israel on the list was long overdue. Callamard emphasized that it should not have taken the deaths of 15,000 children in Gaza for Israel to be recognized as a violator of children's rights.

The UN's annual report on children and armed conflict, which includes the blacklist, is set to be presented to the UN Security Council on June 14. The report's findings are expected to have significant implications for Israel's international standing and its bilateral defense agreements with other UN member states. The inclusion of Israel on the list could lead to increased scrutiny and pressure on the country to implement measures to protect children in conflict zones.

The report also includes Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad for their roles in the conflict. Hamas has been accused of killing and kidnapping children during its attacks on Israel, which resulted in nearly 1,200 Israeli fatalities. The inclusion of these groups highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of the conflict, where both state and non-state actors are implicated in violations against children.

The UN's decision comes amid ongoing ceasefire negotiations and a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The blockade imposed by Israel has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medical supplies, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population. The World Health Organization recently reported that more than four in five children in Gaza had gone a whole day without eating at least once in 72 hours, with many suffering from malnutrition.

As the international community grapples with the implications of the UN's report, the focus remains on the urgent need to protect children from the devastating impacts of armed conflict. The inclusion of Israel on the "list of shame" serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of war and the imperative to uphold the rights and safety of the most vulnerable.