A United Nations committee has issued a scathing report accusing Israel of committing serious violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the occupied Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza. The report highlights the devastating impact of Israel's nearly yearlong assault on the Gaza Strip, citing an alarming number of children killed, injured, displaced, orphaned, and malnourished as a result of the conflict.

According to the report, since the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 7, at least 41,272 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with another 95,551 individuals injured. The vast majority of the enclave's 2.3 million residents have been displaced multiple times, with many still missing and presumed dead under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The UN Child Rights Committee expressed deep concern over the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks by Israeli forces in densely populated areas of Gaza, resulting in a high number of child casualties. The report also condemned the destruction of essential infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential buildings, which has severely limited access to health services, education, and housing for nearly 1 million children in Gaza.

Israel, which ratified the treaty in 1991, has rejected the committee's findings, claiming a politically-driven agenda. However, the committee has rebuffed Israel's stance, emphasizing the alarming number of children who have lost their lives and the repeated attacks on civilian institutions in the conflict-ridden region. The report underscores the state party's denial of its legal obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law and calls for urgent action to protect the rights and lives of children in the occupied Palestinian territories.