United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has included Israel's military in a global list of offenders who have committed violations against children. This decision was confirmed by his spokesman during a press briefing on Friday.
Israel, along with Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, will be listed in the Secretary-General's annual report on children in armed conflict, which will be presented to the UN Security Council next Friday.
The Israeli UN mission was informed of this decision through a courtesy call by the Secretary-General's chief of staff to avoid leaks. However, the Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, publicly expressed outrage at the decision, calling the IDF the most moral army in the world.
Israel's inclusion on the list follows eight months of conflict in Gaza, resulting in the tragic deaths of over 15,500 children, as reported by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
The 'blacklist' maintained by the UN has previously featured countries like Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
The official report will be published on June 18 and discussed at a Security Council debate on June 26. The Security Council will determine any potential actions based on the report.
Israeli-UN relations have deteriorated significantly during the conflict, with Israeli diplomats openly criticizing the UN and its agencies. The UN has also faced casualties among its staff in Gaza, marking a significant loss for the organization.
Israel has been vocal in its criticism of UNRWA, accusing the agency of anti-Israeli incitement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously called for the dismantling of UNRWA, suggesting its merger with the main UN refugee agency.
Following recent events, Israeli media outlets have intensified scrutiny of UNRWA and raised questions about its role in the ongoing conflict.
