The United Nations has placed the Israeli military on its blacklist due to severe violations of children’s rights during conflicts in Gaza. This decision comes amid widespread condemnation of Israeli actions that have led to the deaths of over 15,500 children since October 7, according to foreign media reports.
Arab media sources report that this blacklist, often referred to as the “List of Shame,” is part of an annual report presented by the office of UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The report documents human rights violations against children in armed conflicts.
The blacklist already includes nations and groups such as Russia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, ISIS, and Boko Haram. The final report is expected to be published by the end of June.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that in Gaza, at least four out of five children have gone an entire day without food within a 72-hour period. The Palestinian government has stated that since the onset of the conflict, at least 32 people, the majority of whom are children, have died due to food shortages.
Human rights organizations have long pressured the UN to include Israel on this list due to its actions against children. The inclusion has been welcomed by UN human rights officials, including Francesca Albanese, who noted that Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of 15,000 Palestinian children. She stated that the move to blacklist Israel for crimes against children was long overdue.
Human Rights Watch has also supported this decision, describing it as a justified step by Secretary-General Guterres. They emphasized the importance of holding accountable those who violate children’s rights in armed conflicts.