Although not official yet, Israel will join the blacklist of countries and organizations that harm children in conflict zones. The list includes Russia and terror organizations such as ISIS, Al-Queda, and Boko Haram. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the decision: "The UN put itself today on history's black list when it adopted the absurd claims of Hamas. The IDF is the most moral military in the world and no "flat earth" decision by the UN secretary-general can change that.
The report will be published next week, stating that Israel killed and injured thousands of children. "The implications may lead to an arms embargo."
Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced that there will be consequences concerning Israel's relations with the UN and the International Organizations Department at the Foreign Ministry is already preparing possible responses, following Katz's directive.
"The shameful decision by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to include the IDF in the blacklist is an act of villainy. Guterres, who stood for a minute of silence in memory of Iran's president who executed tens of thousands of innocents, will be remembered in history as an antisemitic Secretary-General who chose to ignore Hamas's sexual crimes and Israel's right to self-defense. The IDF is the most moral army in the world - and no fictitious report will change that. This step will have consequences for Israel's relations with the UN," said Katz.
The National Security Council has already held discussions on possible responses to the UN's decision. Israeli UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan recommended a series of steps, including evacuating the UNTSO headquarters in Jerusalem, closing UN facilities in East Jerusalem, denying visas and expelling senior UN officials, and cessation of funds to the UN. A senior Israeli official said, "Israel is considering removing the gauntlet against the UN."
Despite the campaign to change the secretary-general's mind, the decision will go through nonetheless. This decision did not come as a surprise to Israel due to Guterres' repeated anti-Israel statements. Various sources familiar with the matter said that "the current secretary-general hates Israel and it is impossible to influence him anymore." According to sources, "the implications of Israel's inclusion on the blacklist are very problematic and may lead countries around the world to impose an arms embargo on Israel."
Virginia Gamba de Potgieter, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Children and Armed Conflict publishes a report once a year covering the previous year which includes a list of armed states and organizations that have not taken sufficient measures to improve protection for children.
The current report covers 2023, including data in the last quarter due to events on October 7. Last year, Afghanistan, Colombia, Congo, Iraq, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Syria were included in the blacklist; and terror organizations ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram. Last year's report included Russia due to its actions in Ukraine.
Chairman of the Blue and White party, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, also criticized the UN: "This decision is a historic low. While Israel is conducting a just war against human monsters, the UN aligns Israel with them and with ISIS. We will continue to fight this just war, and as always, act according to the highest moral standards and international law. Not because of the UN, but because that's who we are."
Chairman of the Religious Zionist Party, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, responded: "Our future and destiny are in our hands. The nations of the world can help or interfere. But when the future of the state, and the lives of our children, hang in the balance, we have one choice, we must prevail."
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir commented: "The UN stands with Hamas and has become complicit in terror. It is a shame like no other. Israel cannot remain silent about this. The response must be harsh and include sanctions against UN personnel."
Until this last year, there was a chapter in the report dedicated to Israel and the Palestinians, but, Israel has not yet entered the blacklist. The UN has documented the number of casualties so far, but there has not been a real response to the allegations. The report's source is UN agencies and personnel on site, but Israel has criticized the UN before for relying on Palestinian figures. According to the Palestinians, even 18-year-old terrorists are counted as children and Palestinian victims, a categorization that Israel vehemently disputes.
The report accuses Israel of recruiting children as informants
In the draft received by Israel a few months ago, the UN blamed Israel for actions that constitute violations of international law regarding harm to children. In that draft, allegations were raised about the wide-scale use of bombs in populated areas; imposing a severe siege on Gaza; and allegations that Israel attacked critical infrastructure for humanitarian purposes, including UN facilities, schools, hospitals, water, and sanitation facilities.
The draft also includes allegations of Israel's attempt to recruit minors as "militants" and claims that security forces used children to defend themselves. In the original draft, there was no reference to Hamas and Islamic Jihad's use of children as human shields, nor any mention of Hamas firing missiles into Israeli territory and causing significant casualties among civilian populations and damage to civilian facilities, including children's playgrounds, hospitals, and schools. Also, Israel is accused of killing six children in Lebanon, but even on this issue, there was no mention of any context or reference to Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and the damage they caused.
Israel disputes the allegation that Israel's security forces are recruiting minors as informants, and unless evidence is presented, the allegation should be deleted. According to Israel's claim, even the accusation of using children as human shields is false and not based on fact. Israel condemns Hamas's use of the civilian population, including children, as human shields, which is not mentioned in the report. There is no mention that Hamas fires from civilian population centers, in proximity to schools and hospitals, which is the main reason they are at risk during the conflict.
First published: 20:21, 06.07.24