A United Nations-appointed investigative commission has renewed accusations that Israeli military operations in Gaza have disproportionately affected children, alleging that some incidents may constitute war crimes and genocide under international law.
The report, issued by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, claims that children represented a significant portion of Palestinian casualties during the conflict that erupted following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. According to the commission, more than 20,000 children were among those killed between October 2023 and October 2025, while many others remain missing or are believed to be buried beneath rubble and unmarked graves.
The commission further alleged that some children were killed by highly precise weapons fire, including sniper rounds and drone attacks, suggesting that certain incidents may have involved deliberate targeting rather than accidental civilian casualties during combat operations.
Medical personnel interviewed during the investigation reportedly described injuries consistent with single, accurately aimed gunshots, raising concerns among investigators regarding the use of force in populated civilian areas.
Israeli authorities strongly rejected the allegations, describing the report as biased, inaccurate and politically motivated. Israel has consistently denied intentionally targeting civilians and maintains that its military operations are directed exclusively against militant groups operating within Gaza.
Officials from Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized the commission’s findings and questioned the reliability of the evidence used in compiling the report. Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that armed groups such as Hamas operate from densely populated neighborhoods and civilian infrastructure, creating difficult conditions for military operations and increasing the risk of civilian harm.
The report also focused on incidents occurring after the ceasefire agreement reached in October 2025, claiming that Palestinian children continued to be killed or injured in areas near Israeli military positions and restricted zones.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than one thousand Palestinians have reportedly died since the ceasefire agreement came into effect, including hundreds of children. Among the incidents cited was the death of a 12-year-old boy in southern Gaza following an airstrike in the Al-Mawasi area, where thousands of displaced civilians have sought refuge.
The Israeli military stated that the strike targeted a Hamas operative but did not provide additional operational details.
The commission’s findings hold no direct legal authority but could contribute to ongoing proceedings before international judicial bodies. The International Court of Justice is currently examining a genocide case brought against Israel, while the International Criminal Court continues investigations related to alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
Israel rejects the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and disputes all allegations of genocide, arguing that its campaign was launched in response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in hundreds of hostages being taken into Gaza.
The war has since become one of the deadliest conflicts in the region’s modern history, with humanitarian organizations warning of severe civilian suffering, widespread displacement, food shortages and extensive destruction across the Gaza Strip.
