UN Report: Nearly 2% of Gaza's Children Killed in Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict
The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry has released a report stating that nearly 2% of Gaza's child population has been killed by Israeli security forces since the conflict began in October 2023. The report, dated June 18, 2026, documents over 73,000 deaths and about 180,000 injuries in the Gaza Strip, with children accounting for 30% of fatalities and 26% of injuries.
The conflict was triggered by a Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel's subsequent military operations in Gaza have led to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis. The UN Commission's report alleges that some actions by Israeli forces constitute war crimes, including wilful killing and the crime against humanity of extermination. Israel has consistently denied these allegations and rejected the characterization of its actions as genocide.
The report specifically highlights the impact on children, noting that the number of children killed represents around 2% of Gaza's total child population. It also documents cases where Israeli soldiers allegedly mocked and weaponised symbols of childhood. The Commission concluded that Israel has deliberately inflicted bodily harm on thousands of children, with much of the harm not being incidental but rather intended to destroy the existence of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has dismissed the report as biased and politically motivated.
The UN report also links hate speech by some Israeli political leaders and security forces to the normalization of violence, drawing parallels to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Thousands of children have been orphaned or separated from their families since October 7, and many face malnutrition and disability due to the conditions imposed by the blockade. The report calls for accountability and an end to violations against children in conflict.
