Israel fears being blacklisted by UN over Gaza onslaught

JERUSALEM

Fears are growing inside Israel about being blacklisted by the United Nations among countries harming children in conflict zones.

Israel grew worried after numerous statements made by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip, which killed nearly 34,600 people, the vast majority of whom were children and women, the public broadcaster KAN reported.

A report is scheduled to be released next month by UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba on the situation of children in conflict zones, which is likely to include Israel among entities violating children’s rights.

According to KAN, Israeli officials are struggling behind the scenes to persuade the UN to correct what they call “many inaccuracies” in the draft report.

If added, Israel will be listed alongside terrorist groups such as Daesh/ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Boko Haram.

Israel has waged a deadly offensive on Gaza following a Hamas attack, which killed some 1,200 people, imposing a crippling siege that left Gaza’s population, particularly residents of northern Gaza, on the verge of starvation.

More than six months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to stop genocidal acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar in Ankara