BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
A United Nations-appointed panel of independent investigators has renewed its accusations that Israel committed genocide during the war in Gaza, alleging that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children and committed serious violations of international humanitarian law throughout the conflict.
The findings, released in a new report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, paint a devastating picture of the human cost of the conflict, particularly its impact on children.
According to the commission, children accounted for nearly 30 percent of all Palestinians killed between October 2023 and October 2025, representing more than 20,000 fatalities during that period alone. The report added that many additional children are believed to remain missing or buried beneath collapsed buildings or in unmarked graves, making the full scale of the tragedy difficult to determine.
The commission concluded that the scale of child deaths and injuries, combined with what it described as repeated attacks against civilians, amounted to both war crimes and acts of genocide. The latest report expands on similar allegations first made by the commission in September and includes additional evidence gathered through witness testimony, medical records, satellite imagery, and other documentation.
Israel has firmly rejected the allegations, repeatedly denying that it has committed genocide or deliberately targeted civilians during its military campaign in Gaza. Israeli officials maintain that the country’s armed forces operate in accordance with international law and take extensive measures to minimize civilian casualties, despite the challenges posed by Hamas operating within densely populated civilian areas.
In response to the report, Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the findings as politically motivated and lacking credibility. The ministry described the document as a “libelous sham,” arguing that many of its claims were unverified and accusing the commission itself of being fundamentally biased against Israel. Israeli officials also criticized the investigative body, saying its mandate was designed to unfairly single out Israel rather than conduct an objective examination of the conflict.
The commission’s report identified specific Israeli military units operating in areas where Palestinian children, including infants, were reportedly killed. Investigators also examined the types of weapons allegedly used during several incidents and highlighted cases involving sniper fire and attacks by quadcopter drones.
According to the report, doctors who examined victims said autopsy findings in several cases suggested an unusually high degree of accuracy in the gunfire that struck children. Medical experts interviewed by investigators stated that the wounds indicated carefully aimed shots rather than injuries caused by indiscriminate fighting or stray bullets.
The commission further alleged that children continued to be killed even after a ceasefire was reached in October 2025. Investigators cited incidents involving children reportedly gathering firewood or moving near designated buffer zones separating areas under Israeli military control. The report claimed these deaths demonstrated what it described as a continued disregard for the ceasefire agreement and for protections afforded to children under international law.
Commission Chair Srinivasan Muralidhar said the evidence showed that Palestinian children continued to suffer grave harm despite the formal cessation of large-scale hostilities. He argued that international legal protections for children had not been adequately respected and called for greater accountability for alleged violations.
The report also criticized statements by Israeli security forces that classified some of the children who were killed as “suspects.” Investigators argued that such characterizations shifted responsibility onto the victims and portrayed Palestinian children as security threats rather than civilian casualties.
Israel has consistently disputed previous findings issued by the commission and has accused several United Nations bodies of demonstrating institutional bias against the country. Israeli officials argue that reports issued by such organizations often fail to adequately address Hamas’ actions and the complex realities of urban warfare.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive in Gaza aimed at dismantling Hamas’ military infrastructure and securing the release of hostages.
Since then, the conflict has resulted in widespread destruction across Gaza and one of the deadliest humanitarian crises in the region’s history. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 73,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, including those who died following the October 2025 ceasefire. The ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its casualty figures but says that women and children account for roughly half of those killed.
Although Israel disputes many of the casualty assessments and allegations contained in international reports, humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies have repeatedly warned about the severe toll the conflict has taken on Gaza’s civilian population. The latest findings are expected to add to growing international pressure for independent investigations, greater humanitarian access, and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a lasting political resolution to the conflict.
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