Israeli forces have deliberately targeted and killed Palestinian children in Gaza and the West Bank, according to a UN inquiry, which says the attacks amount to war crimes and point to genocidal intent.

Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, presented the findings on Tuesday while discussing a new report on Israeli violations against minors.

He said the commission had found “indisputable evidence” of deliberate targeted killings of Palestinian children, as well as torture, inhumane and degrading treatment, sexual and gender-based violence, and attacks on infrastructure essential to children, such as orphanages, healthcare, and educational facilities.

According to the commission, Israeli forces killed more than 20,000 Palestinian children and injured over 44,000 others between October 2023 and October 2025. UNICEF findings also suggest that by February 2026, the toll in Gaza had risen to 21,289 children killed and 44,500 injured.