UN adds Israel’s military, Hamas to list of offenders for harming children

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has added Israel’s military, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to a global list of offenders that have committed violations against children.

Spokesman to UN secretary-general Stephane Dujarric on Friday said they were being placed on the list in the secretary-general’s annual report on children in armed conflict, to be sent to the UN Security Council next Friday.

The report on children and armed conflict covers six violations - killing and maiming, sexual violence, abduction, recruitment and use of children, denial of aid access and attacks of schools and hospitals.

It was not immediately clear what violations Israel, Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad had been listed for.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan described the decision to include Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the list as ‘shameful’. Erdan said he was officially notified of the decision on Friday.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision ‘will have consequences for Israel's relations with the UN’.