UN Accuses Israel of Violating Children’s Rights; Israel Responds

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has added Israel to a global list of offenders that have committed violations against children. The move comes after more than 15,500 children were killed in the recent war in Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health in the enclave. In a shocking development, Israel’s military, along with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, has been added to the list of violators. The annual report on children in armed conflict, which will be presented to the UN Security Council, has sparked outrage from Israeli officials.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, expressed frustration at the decision, calling the IDF “the most moral army in the world.” He criticized the Secretary-General for allegedly rewarding terrorists and incentivizing them to use children for terror acts. The decision to include Israel on the blacklist has been met with strong reactions from both Israeli and Palestinian representatives. The move is seen as a crucial step in holding Israel accountable for its actions and ending the culture of impunity it has enjoyed for years.

The conflict between Israel and the UN has escalated in recent months, with Israeli diplomats using their platforms at the UN to denounce the organization. Israel’s quarrel with the UN extends beyond the secretary-general to various UN agencies like UNRWA, the World Health Organization, and UN Women. The ongoing war in Gaza has taken a toll on UN staffers as well, with dozens being killed since the conflict began. The situation has raised concerns about the deteriorating relations between Israel and the UN moving forward.