NEW YORK (Kashmir English): Israeli armed and security forces have once again surfaced on the United Nations Secretary-General’s annual ‘list of shame’ of parties committing grave violations against children across the globe.
This marks the second consecutive year Israel has appeared on the UN list, reflecting increasing global concern over its military conduct in the occupied territories.
The Children and Armed Conflict report finds “an alarming rise” in violations against children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza.
The UN verified 8,554 grave violations against 2,959 children globally in 2023, of which 7,188 were attributed to Israeli forces.
Israeli killings in Gaza
Among the verified violations were the killings of 1,259 Palestinian children in Gaza, mostly due to Israeli air strikes and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Only live ammunition fired by Israeli forces in the Occupied West Bank killed 97 Palestinian children. Additionally, 1,561 Palestinian children were maimed—many by Israeli air strikes, live ammunition, and tear gas.
The UN report also noted the use of 27 Palestinian boys as human shields by Israeli forces, along with attacks on 502 schools and hospitals.
It also cited the detention of 951 Palestinian children, with 112 held under administrative detention without trial.
“I am deeply alarmed by the continued increase in grave violations against children perpetrated by Israeli armed and security forces,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres wrote.
He called on Israel to “abide by international humanitarian and human rights law,” and to stop the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.
The UN also reported 2,263 denials of humanitarian access in Gaza and verified the deaths of at least 280 UN personnel since 7 October 2023 during Israeli military operations.
The UNSG urged Israel to develop and sign an action plan with the UN to end and prevent such violations in the future.
He also condemned attacks by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, including the use of hostages, indiscriminate rocket fire, and the use of schools and hospitals for military purposes.
While calling on Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hezbullah, Yemen’s Houthis, and Iran to cease attacks affecting civilians, the report squarely places the majority of verified grave violations in 2023 on Israeli forces.
Israel’s inclusion on the UN “list of shame” comes despite global debate in recent years over the Secretary-General’s discretion in naming state actors.
Globally, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Haiti, Nigeria, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory were highlighted as regions with the highest violations.
Lebanon, Mozambique, Haiti, Ethiopia, and Ukraine saw the sharpest percentage increases.
Russia has also been named in the list, with 1,914 violations documented in Ukraine.
