Antonio Guterres to submit report to UN on children and armed conflict
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will submit a report to the UN Security Council on children and armed conflict today.
For the first time ever, Guterres will add Israel’s military to a global list of offenders for committing violations against children in 2023. According to a diplomatic source, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants will also be listed. The list encompasses six violations, including killing and attacks on schools and hospitals.
The Israeli Foreign Minister said that the Guterres’ move will have repercussions for Israel’s relations with the U.N. Israel-UN relations have historically been tense, but ties have become even more strained amid the Israel-Hamas war. In a statement after the attacks by Hamas on October 7, Guterres said the Palestinian people had been subjected to over 50 years of occupation and expressed concern over violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza. Israel accused Guterres of justifying Hamas’ actions.
The UN and other actors have continued to work towards an agreement laid out by US President Joe Biden for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The US expects Israel to accept the deal. However, Israel has expressed concerns that a ceasefire plan won’t guarantee that Hamas doesn’t pose a threat in the future.
