UN Finds Israel Committed Crimes Against Humanity Against Children
A UN Commission of Inquiry concluded Israeli authorities committed crimes against humanity by persecuting Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza.
The United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded on October 14 that Israeli authorities committed the crime against humanity of persecution against Palestinian children in the West Bank. This finding expands on a previous determination made regarding Gaza in June.
The commission stated that the harm inflicted on children is not incidental or collateral to the broader violence affecting civilian populations, but instead forms part of a pattern of intentional violence. According to the report, children are targeted specifically due to their age, as well as their race, ethnicity, or nationality.
Human Rights Watch is using these findings to advocate for the explicit inclusion of age as a ground for persecution in a new treaty to codify crimes against humanity. While current international law allows for persecution based on other grounds, advocates argue that explicit codification would increase visibility for targeted groups and simplify the process for judges to confirm charges. Sixteen countries have proposed amendments to add age to the working draft of the treaty before formal negotiations begin in 2028.
