A United Nations committee has leveled serious accusations against Israel, claiming severe violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Gaza. The panel's statement, issued on September 19, 2024, describes the impact on children as "catastrophic" and among the worst violations in recent history.
According to Palestinian health authorities, the ongoing conflict has resulted in 41,000 casualties in Gaza since Israel's military campaign began. This operation was launched in response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which claimed 1,200 Israeli lives and led to 250 hostages being taken. Of the Gaza casualties, at least 11,355 are reported to be children.
Bragi Gudbrandsson, Vice Chair of the UN Committee, expressed grave concern:
"The outrageous death of children is almost historically unique. This is an extremely dark place in history. I don't think we have seen before, a violation that is so massive, as we've seen in Gaza. These are extremely grave violations that we do not often see."
Israel, which ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, sent a delegation to UN hearings in Geneva earlier this month. The Israeli representatives argued that the treaty does not apply to Gaza or the West Bank, asserting their commitment to international humanitarian law. They maintain that their military campaign targets Hamas, not civilians, though Hamas denies using civilians as human shields.
The UN Committee, comprising 18 independent experts, monitors countries' compliance with the 1989 Convention. In its conclusions, the panel called on Israel to provide urgent assistance to thousands of injured children in Gaza, support orphans, and facilitate more medical evacuations. While the committee lacks enforcement power, countries generally aim to comply with its recommendations.
During the hearings, the impact on Israeli children was also discussed. Sabine Tassa, mother of a 17-year-old boy killed in the October 7 attacks, addressed the panel, stating, "The children of Israel are in an appalling state."
The situation in Gaza has drawn international attention to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The UN has maintained a presence in the region since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and has repeatedly called for a two-state solution. The Gaza Strip, governed by Hamas since 2007, has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt, complicating humanitarian efforts.
The International Criminal Court opened an investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestinian territories in 2021, adding another layer of scrutiny to the conflict. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) continues to provide essential services to Palestinian refugees, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) monitors the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
As the international community grapples with the ongoing crisis, the UN Security Council's numerous resolutions and the International Court of Justice's 2004 advisory opinion on Israel's separation barrier underscore the complex legal and humanitarian challenges in the region. The latest UN committee report adds to the growing calls for urgent action to protect children caught in the crossfire of this protracted conflict.