The United Nations has taken a significant step by adding Israel’s military to a global list of offenders who have committed violations against children.

Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, confirmed this choice, and his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, made the announcement on Friday. This move, part of the UN’s annual report on children in armed conflict, has generated considerable controversy and reactions from various quarters.

Background

The annual report on children in armed conflict, set to be sent to the UN Security Council on June 14, lists countries and armed groups responsible for violations against children.

These violations include killing, maiming, sexual abuse, abduction, recruitment of children, denial of humanitarian access, and targeting of schools and hospitals. The list aims to name and shame offenders in the hope of deterring future violations.

Israel’s Inclusion and Reactions

 Israeli Response

Israel’s inclusion on the list follows eight months of intense conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 15,500 children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

The conflict began with a Hamas-led assault on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the capture of around 250 hostages. The Israeli military’s response has led to significant casualties and destruction in Gaza.

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, expressed outrage at the decision. In a video posted on social media, he called the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) “the most moral army in the world.” 

He criticized the UN for rewarding terrorists and incentivizing them to use children for terror acts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the UN’s decision, stating that the organization had “added itself to the blacklist of history.”

Palestinian Response

Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, welcomed the decision, stating that it was a step towards ending the double standards and culture of impunity that Israel has enjoyed for too long. He emphasized that the decision would not bring back the thousands of children killed by Israel but was an essential move toward accountability.

Details of the Report

Along with the IDF, Virginia Gamba, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, included Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the report.

The list will be formally presented to the UN Security Council on June 18 and discussed in a debate on June 26.

Violations Cited

The specific violations cited against the IDF include the killing and maiming of children, denial of humanitarian access, and the targeting of schools and hospitals. The report covers incidents from the ongoing conflict in Gaza, highlighting the severe impact on children.

Implications and Future Steps

International Reactions

The inclusion of Israel on this list is expected to have significant diplomatic ramifications. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned that the decision would impact Israel’s relations with the UN, which are already strained.

The UN’s role in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza, through agencies like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has been a point of contention, with Israel accusing these agencies of anti-Israeli bias.

UN’s Stance

Stephane Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, stated that the decision to include Israel was based on verified violations and was part of the UN’s efforts to protect children from the effects of armed conflict. 

The UN hopes that naming and shaming offenders, it can pressure them to take steps to mitigate harm to children in future conflicts.

Next Steps

The report will be discussed by the UN Security Council, and it remains to be seen what actions will be taken in response to the findings. The UN’s engagement with the IDF and Palestinian armed groups will continue, aiming to ensure better protection for children in conflict zones.

The addition of Israel’s military to the UN’s list of offenders harming children marks a significant development in international efforts to protect children in conflict zones.

While the decision has sparked controversy, it underscores the UN’s commitment to holding all parties accountable for violations against children. The coming weeks will reveal the broader implications of this decision for international diplomacy and efforts to safeguard children’s rights in conflict areas.

The information is taken from The Hindu and The Guardian