New UN Commission of Inquiry report highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on Palestinian children

The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel has released its latest report, documenting the impact of the conflict on Palestinian children between 7 October 2023 and 31 March 2026.

According to the Commission, children have borne a disproportionate share of the violence. The report states that at least 20,179 children have been killed in Gaza, more than 44,000 injured, and thousands remain buried beneath the rubble. Tens of thousands have lost one or both parents, while approximately 21,000 children are now living with permanent disabilities, including a significant number of amputations. In the West Bank, the Commission also documents the killing of more than 200 Palestinian children by Israeli forces.

The report describes a pattern of attacks affecting children, paediatric healthcare facilities, schools and other civilian infrastructure. It also documents the detention of children accompanied, according to the Commission’s findings, by torture, sexual violence and other forms of ill-treatment, as well as the impact of the siege and restrictions on humanitarian assistance on children’s survival and well-being.

The Commission further reports that Gaza’s education system has been almost entirely destroyed, with 97 per cent of schools damaged or destroyed and three consecutive academic years severely disrupted. It also examines the effects of hunger, malnutrition, the collapse of the healthcare system and the profound psychological consequences of prolonged exposure to violence.

Based on the evidence gathered, the Commission concludes that there are reasonable grounds to believe that serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law have been committed. According to its findings, these amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide attributable to the Israeli authorities and security forces. The Commission considers the targeting of children to be central to its assessment of the broader pattern of violations.

Among its recommendations, the Commission calls for the immediate protection of children, an end to the documented violations, implementation of the International Court of Justice’s decisions, the release of detained children, accountability for those responsible, and stronger international measures to prevent further violations, including the suspension of arms transfers.

The report urges the international community to place the rights and protection of children at the centre of its response, reaffirming that every child is entitled to the safeguards guaranteed under international law, even in times of armed conflict.