Israel criticizes UN decision to blacklist IDF for harming children

The United Nations has added the Israeli military to a list of offenders failing to protect children last year, according to Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan. The decision, which Erdan described as “shameful,” was notified to him on Friday. Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that it would have consequences for Israel’s relations with the UN.

The move was welcomed by a spokesman for the Palestinian president, who saw it as a step closer to holding Israel accountable for what he called its crimes. Thousands of children have been killed in Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza, with many more in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

The annual list by the UN secretary general covers the killing of children in conflict, denial of access to aid, and the targeting of schools and hospitals. It will be included in a report to be presented to the UN Security Council next week. While it was not immediately clear which violations the Israeli army is accused of committing, reports suggest that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad will also be included in the list.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the UN’s decision, stating that the Israeli military is the “most moral army in the world” and that the UN had added itself to the “blacklist of history.” Israel launched its offensive after Hamas attacked communities near Gaza on 7 October last year, resulting in casualties on both sides.

The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians, with the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reporting thousands of deaths and injuries. Last month, the UN revised down the proportion of reported fatalities that were women and children, attributing the discrepancy to false data provided by Hamas. Israel has denied accusations of delaying aid to Gaza, insisting that UN bodies and humanitarian organizations have failed to distribute aid that is allowed in.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with reports of famine in northern Gaza and worsening food insecurity in southern Gaza. The displacement of over a million Palestinians from Rafah has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, with children dying due to malnutrition and dehydration, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Unrwa.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians, particularly children, who are the most vulnerable in times of war. The international community must work towards a peaceful resolution to end the suffering of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.