UN chief says “shocked” by number of Palestinian children killed by Israel

Guterres stated in the annual “Children and Armed Conflict” report that Israeli troops killed 78 Palestinian children, maimed another 982, and detained 637 in 2021.

“Should the situation repeat itself in 2022, without meaningful improvement, Israel should be listed,” Guterres warned in the report, referring to the UN’s “List of Shame” of those committing grave violations against children.

The UN chief added he was “shocked” by the killing and injuring of Palestinian children by Israeli forces in airstrikes on densely populated areas and through the use of live ammunition, and “at the continued lack of accountability for these violations.”

He also expressed serious concern about the excessive use of force, urging “the Israeli forces to exercise maximum restraint… in order to protect lives”.

Guterres also called on “Israel to investigate every case in which live ammunition was used”.

Referring to the issue of the Palestinian children held in Israeli jails, Guterres stressed the need for Israel to adhere to international standards regarding the detention of children, and to end administrative detention of kids, as well as ill-treatment and violence in detention.

Under the administrative detention, Israel keeps Palestinians without charge for up to six months, a period which can be extended for an infinite number of times. The detention takes place on orders from a military commander and on the basis of what the Israeli regime describes as ‘secret’ evidence. Some prisoners have been held in administrative detention for up to 11 years.

Palestinians and human rights groups say the administrative detention violates the right to due process since evidence is withheld from prisoners while they are held for lengthy periods without being charged, tried, or convicted.