UN Keeps Israel on ‘Blacklist’ for Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict for Second Year
The United Nations has once again placed Israel on its annual “blacklist” of countries and groups responsible for grave violations against children in armed conflict, citing a sharp rise in violence during its ongoing war in Gaza, now nearing 20 months.
According to the UN’s newly released Children and Armed Conflict report, 2024 witnessed “unprecedented levels” of violence against minors in conflict zones globally. The Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank were identified as the epicenters of the most violations, primarily attributed to Israeli military actions.
The report documented a 25% increase in grave violations against children globally, confirming 41,370 incidents, including killings, maimings, sexual violence, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
In the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel, the UN verified 8,554 grave violations involving 2,959 children — 2,944 Palestinian and 15 Israeli. This includes 1,259 Palestinian children killed and 941 injured in Gaza. The Gaza Ministry of Health reports significantly higher death tolls, with the UN still verifying over 4,470 additional child fatalities in 2024.
The report also highlighted 97 Palestinian children killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and noted more than 3,600 other violations in that region.
In Lebanon, Israeli operations were linked to over 500 child casualties, marking a dramatic spike. Lebanon experienced the sharpest percentage rise in child rights violations globally — a 545% increase over the previous year.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed grave concern over the use of explosive weaponry in densely populated areas and reiterated his calls for Israel to respect international law, particularly regarding the protection of children, civilian infrastructure, and the principle of distinction between military targets and civilians.
Israel has not issued an official response to the report. Also returning to the blacklist were the Qassam Brigades (Hamas) and the al-Quds Brigades (Palestinian Islamic Jihad), for their roles in the ongoing conflict.
Beyond the Palestinian territories, the UN cited the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Nigeria, and Haiti as countries with high levels of child-related violations in armed conflict. Rising violence in Lebanon, Mozambique, Ethiopia also contributed to global increases.
With input from Al Jazeera
