Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza, UN inquiry finds

What Happened

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel released a report on Tuesday finding that Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza. Commission chair Srinivasan Muralidhar stated that 'Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by the Israeli security forces,' with about 30% of those killed in the conflict being children. The report says Israeli forces used high-payload munitions in densely populated areas, indicating intentional attacks, and that this continued after the October 2025 ceasefire. It also found that Israeli-imposed conditions—blockade of aid, repeated displacement, and attacks on healthcare—have severely harmed children’s health and development. In the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, the commission documented a sharp increase in settler violence against Palestinian children and systemic torture of detained minors, including sexual violence, forced stripping, and food deprivation. The commission concluded that Israel’s actions constitute genocidal intent to destroy the Palestinian group in whole or in part, and that the treatment of children in detention amounts to crimes against humanity of torture and other inhumane acts. Israel’s mission in Geneva rejected the report as a 'libellous sham,' while the commission’s earlier September 2024 report had already found genocide, and the ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes. Hamas was accused by Israel of diverting humanitarian aid, which Hamas denied.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The report intensifies the international legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel by adding a detailed focus on children to the genocide allegation. It may influence proceedings at the International Criminal Court, where Netanyahu already faces an arrest warrant, and could affect the posture of key allies like the United States and United Kingdom. The findings also spotlight the deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in Gaza and the West Bank, potentially shaping future ceasefire negotiations, aid access, and UN actions.

Watch For

Diplomatic reactions from the US and UK, potential ICC prosecutor statements or new filings referencing the report, and any UN Security Council or General Assembly resolutions or debates. In the region, monitor whether the findings affect the fragile ceasefire in place since October 2025, including any changes in Israel’s blockade or military operations, and whether settler violence in the West Bank escalates following the report's release.