A United Nations investigative report has drawn worldwide attention to alleged abuses against children in Gaza, stating that evidence suggests Palestinian children may have been deliberately targeted during the conflict. The report says such actions could amount to war crimes and potentially genocide.
According to the findings, one incident involved a 10-day-old infant who was reportedly shot while being breastfed by his mother. In another case, a four-year-old girl suffered a gunshot wound to the head inside a tent, leaving her permanently disabled. European Parliament member Barry Andrews also highlighted these incidents.
The UN Commission of Inquiry stated that documents and witness accounts indicate Israeli quadcopter drones were used to target civilians with high precision. Witnesses claimed the drones hovered over streets and refugee camps and opened fire on individuals who appeared to be moving.
The report triggered strong international reactions. Iranian analyst Seyed Mohammad Marandi said those who had dismissed accusations of genocide would now have to respond to the findings. Former Pakistani foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar described the report as one of the most revealing and serious documents issued by the United Nations.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep concern and shock over the report’s conclusions, saying that the alleged deliberate targeting of Palestinian children had resulted in immense human suffering. He noted that reports of more than 20,000 child deaths represented a stain on the collective conscience of humanity and called for accountability.
Israel has rejected all allegations contained in the report, describing it as biased and unfounded. The Israeli government maintains that the accusations do not accurately reflect the realities of the conflict.