The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said in a 100-page report released on June 23 that Israeli authorities and security forces deliberately targeted and killed Palestinian children between October 7, 2023, and March 31, 2026.
The commission, chaired by S. Muralidhar, said the conduct amounted to crimes against humanity and war crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and described the report as the first specialized UN investigative study focused exclusively on crimes and violations against Palestinian children.
Israeli forces have killed over 20,000 children & injured 44,000 more since 7 Oct. 2023, Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the @UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory & Israel, told reporters today. #HRC62
— UN Human Rights Council Investigative Bodies (@uninvhrc) June 23, 2026
More on their new report ➡️ https://t.co/gK2KhtlgFb pic.twitter.com/ZQGUQkJKxD
The grim arithmetic of a generation
The report said at least 20,179 Palestinian children were killed and 44,143 injured in Gaza between October 2023 and October 2025, while children accounted for nearly 30% of all deaths in the occupied Palestinian territory during the period under review.
It also said 58,054 children lost one or both parents between October 2023 and October 2025, with 97% of schools in Gaza destroyed or damaged, 95% of universities affected, and 22 of Gaza’s 38 universities completely destroyed.
151 child deaths were linked to malnutrition as of October 1, 2025. More than 1,000 children underwent amputations in the first three months of the conflict.
Israel continues to commit genocide, atrocity crimes by deliberately targeting Palestinian children, @UN independent commission finds.#HRC62 | @UN_News_Centre storyhttps://t.co/I7YCaeqvsC
— UN Human Rights Council Investigative Bodies (@uninvhrc) June 23, 2026
A troubling pattern comes into view
As per the commission, Palestinian children were killed primarily through airstrikes using high-yield explosives and through targeted attacks involving quadcopter drones, sniper rifles, and other weapons.
The pattern of killings, injuries, starvation, and denial of healthcare formed part of a broader strategy aimed at undermining the future of Palestinian society.
Muralidhar said the report “further substantiates” the commission’s genocide finding, while the inquiry concluded that attacks on children weakened Palestinians’ ability to determine their future as a people.
A contest of law and interpretation
The findings triggered a strong Israeli rebuttal. International law specialist Elliot Malin said the report’s genocide conclusion was “not a legally available conclusion" and noted that Israel has over 3,000 preliminary probes and more than 100 criminal investigations into its own conduct.
The commission said it would continue working on accountability measures and hoped member states, the UN Security Council, and other international bodies would act on its recommendations.
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FAQs
Q1: What did the UN inquiry accuse Israel of doing in Gaza?
Ans: The UN commission said Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children and that some actions may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Q2: Why has the UN report on Palestinian children drawn global attention?
Ans: The report links large-scale child deaths, injuries and destruction of education and healthcare infrastructure in Gaza to potential violations of international law.
