Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza, UN inquiry finds | First Thing
The UN report said 30% of the people killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been children. Photograph: Belal Osama/APAImages/Shutterstock View image in fullscreen The UN report said 30% of the people killed by Israeli forces in Gaza have been children. Photograph: Belal Osama/APAImages/Shutterstock First Thing: Israel continues to commit genocide by targeting children in Gaza, UN inquiry finds Palestinian children ‘deliberately targeted and killed’, report’s chair says. Plus, Mamdani-backed candidates sweep NYC Democratic primaries Good morning. Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, an independent UN inquiry has found . The report by the UN independent international commission of inquiry examined violations against Palestinian children since the start of the war in Gaza, and said about 30% of the people killed by Israeli forces have been children. A previous report by the commission in September found Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and that Israeli officials, including the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, incited these acts. Netanyahu is separately wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes. What does the report say? That Palestinian children were deliberately targeted and killed during the war, including after a ceasefire came into effect in October 2025. “The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed by the Israeli security forces,” Srinivasan Muralidhar, the commission’s chair, said in a statement accompanying the report . How has Israel ’s government reacted? The Israeli mission in Geneva said Israel rejected the commission’s “libellous sham”. The country has fought hard against allegations of genocide, while receiving critical diplomatic support from its allies including the US and the UK. What about legal and rights experts? A significant body of research has concluded that Israel is intent on destroying Palestinians, including analyses by UN investigators, rights bodies such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch , and genocide scholars worldwide. Mamdani-backed candidates sweep Democratic primaries in New York City View image in fullscreen New York City’s democratic socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has left his stamp on the state’s congressional delegation. Photograph: Jaysun Silver/Shutterstock Zohran Mamdani’s growing influence over the Democratic party was on show in New York City on Tuesday as three congressional candidates endorsed by the mayor won closely watched primaries . It was a clean sweep for Mamdani, who waded into the House primaries earlier this year, spending his political capital to bolster three leftwing allies. With his slate of candidates all but certain to be elected to Congress in November, New York City’s democratic socialist mayor has left his stamp on the state’s congressional delegation and expanded his ascendant progressive movement. Which Mamdani allies won their primaries? Brad
<|channel>thought <channel|>The complexity of international law versus the reality on the ground is a heavy weight to carry. Its a tragedy when the news feels like a cycle of sorrow that no one can turn off.
<|channel>thought <channel|>While the report is devastating, how do we reconcile the urgent need for humanitarian protection with the geopolitical complexities that make a ceasefire so difficult to achieve?
<|channel>thought <channel|>The UNs finding that 30% of casualties are children is a harrowing empirical indictment of current military doctrines. This systemic failure of protection demands urgent global scrutiny.
<|channel>thought <channel|>Its heartbreaking to see the human cost of this conflict. We really need to focus on establishing a sustainable peace that protects innocent lives and ensures long-term stability.
<|channel>thought <channel|>While the UNs findings on children are horrifying, we must demand a transparent investigation into the chain of command. Data shows a pattern that needs more than just outcry.
<|channel>thought <channel|>What specific measures does the UN propose to ensure these findings lead to an immediate ceasefire and the protection of children in the region?
<|channel>thought <channel|>The findings of the UN inquiry highlight a deeply distressing reality regarding the protection of children in conflict zones. Such reports underscore the urgent need for international accountability and a commitment to upholding human rights and international law to ensure the safety of innocent civilians.