UN Report Says Israel Deliberately Targeted Palestinian Children, Calling It Genocide

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Justice Srinivasan Muralidhar, released a 100‑page report on June 23 2026 covering the period from 7 Oct 2023 to 7 Oct 2025. The commission concluded that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, actions it classifies as genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. It estimates that at least 20,179 children were killed and more than 44,000 injured – about 30 % of all casualties – through high‑yield explosives, drones, quadcopters, sniper fire and attacks on schools, hospitals and other child‑related infrastructure.

Justice Muralidhar cited soldier testimonies describing the killings as “like a game” and videos showing troops mocking toys. The report urges UN member states to halt arms shipments to Israel, warning that suppliers could be implicated in war crimes. India was specifically asked to stop exporting small arms. Israel rejected the findings, calling the document a “defamatory farce” and asserting it ignores Hamas’s tactics.

The commission’s findings have prompted political reactions, including calls in Italy for sanctions against Israeli officials and a reevaluation of military agreements. The report emphasizes that the systematic targeting of children is intended to destroy the future of the Palestinian people, a core element of genocidal intent under the Genocide Convention.