BBC: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United Nations has added Israel’s military, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s armed wing for the first time to its list of offenders for violating children\u2019s rights.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The three entities, along with Sudan’s warring parties, have been singled out for the killing and maiming of children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChildren were killed and maimed in unprecedented numbers”, the Children in Armed Conflict report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The annual report – seen by the BBC and due to be released on Thursday – is meant to shame parties so that they commit to measures outlined by the UN to protect children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n UN Secretary General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres said the conflict between Israel and Palestinian groups has led to grave violations on an unprecedented scale and intensity, notably in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Children bore the brunt of multiplying and escalating crises that were marked by a complete disregard for child rights, notably the inherent right to life,” the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report said the conflict in Gaza has led to a 155% increase in what it categorised as “grave violations” against children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UN verified more than 8,000 grave violations against 4,247 Palestinian children and 113 Israeli children in 2023, the report said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But verification is ongoing with thousands of reports about children dead and injured still needing to be checked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Most incidents were caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by Israeli armed and security forces,” the report states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n