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Israel and the War in Gaza: Violations of Children's Rights

Articles in Press

Document Type : Article

Authors

1 Prof., Department of Public and International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student, International law, Faculty of Law, Razavi University, Mashhad, Iran

3 MA. in International Law, Faculty of Law and Political Science,Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

The war in Gaza is one of the longest and most complex conflicts of the contemporary century, deeply affecting the Palestinian population, especially children. The reflection of these crimes has been met with protests by conscientious individuals around the world, to the extent that the issue of Gaza, and the massacre of children and civilians, has become a primary concern of the global community. From the perspective of international humanitarian law, with the onset of the war on October 7, 2023, and the attacks targeting civilians, particularly children, widespread violations of the fundamental principles and rules of conventions, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and other binding international instruments, have occurred. International humanitarian law obligates all parties involved in armed conflicts to take all possible measures to protect children and civilians. This article discusses Israel’s widespread violations of children's rights in the ongoing conflict and examines international laws regarding the protection of children's rights, emphasizing the necessity of upholding these rights under all circumstances. Certainly, respecting these rights requires robust monitoring by international bodies such as UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child, reporting violations to global public opinion, and referral of the situation to international courts by relevant United Nations bodies.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. English

    1. A) Books
    2. Ang, F. (2005). Article 38: Children in Armed Conflicts. In A Commentary on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Edited by Andre Alen, Johan Vande Lanotte, Eugeen Verhellen, Fiona Ang, Eva Berghmans and Mieke Verheyde. Vol. 38. Leiden; Boston: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. 1-63.
    3. Borrie, J. (2009). Unacceptable Harm: A History of how the treaty to ban cluster monitions was won. New York: United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research.
    4. Lansdown, G. (2022). The Right to Protection from Armed Conflict. In Monitoring State Compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child An Analysis of Attributes. Edited by Ziba Vaghri, Jean Zermatten, Gerison Lansdown, Roberta Ruggiero. Vol. 25. German: Springer. 11-19.
    5. Macharia, R. (2015). The application of the best interests of the child principle to protect the interests of children in armed conflict situations‏, UNISA: University of South Africa.
    6. Ruggiero, R. (2022). The Best Interest of the Child. In Monitoring State Compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child An Analysis of Attributes. Edited by Ziba Vaghri, Jean Zermatten, Gerison Lansdown, Roberta Ruggiero. Vol. 25. German: Springer. 21-29.

     

    1. B) Articles
    2. Boukari, B., Kadir, A., Waterston, T., Jarrett, P., Harkensee, Ch., Dexter, E., Cinar, E. N., Blackett, K., Nacer, H., Stevens, A., & Devakumar, D. (2024). Gaza, armed conflict and child health. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 8 (1), 1-5. Doi: 1136/bmjpo-2023-002407
    3. De Belle, S. (2008). Chained to cannons or wearing targets on their T-shirts: human shields in international humanitarian law. International Review of the Red Cross, 90 (872), 883-906. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1816383109000216
    4. Idris, I. (2024). Children and Armed Conflict: Effects and Interventions. K4DD Rapid Evidence Review 45. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies, 1-31. DOI: 10.19088/K4DD.2024.006
    5. Lisa, B. (2010). A liminal territory: Gaza, executive discretion, and sanctions turned humanitarian. Geo, 75, 347–357.
    6. Weissbrodt, D., Hansen, J. C., & Nesbitt, N. H. (2011). The Role of the Committee on the Rights of the Child in Interpreting and Developing International Humanitarian Law. Harvard Human Rights, Vol. 24, Minnesota Legal Studies Research Paper No. 10-41, 115-153.
    7. Bhungalia, L. (2010). A liminal territory: Gaza, executive discretion, and sanctions turned humanitarian. Geo, 75 (4), 347-357.

     

     

    1. C) Documents
    2. Convention (IV) respecting the Laws and Customs of War on Land and its annex: Regulations concerning the Laws and Customs of War on Land. The Hague, 18 October 1907.
    3. Convention on the Rights of the Child. adopted 20 November 1989, By General Assembly resolution 44/25.
    4. Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol I), 8 June 1977.
    5. Resolution 1261 (1999) / adopted by the Security Council at its 4037th meeting, on 25 August 1999.
    6. Resolution 1612 (2005) / adopted by the Security Council at its 5235th meeting, on 26 July 2005.

     

    1. D) Cases
    2. ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the OPT – ICJ document, 9 July 2004.
    3. ICJ Advisory Opinion on Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, 8 July 1996.
    4. Nicaragua v. United States of America (1986). Military and Paramilitary Activities in and against Nicaragua. International Law Reports. 225-267.

     

    1. E) Reports
    2. Children in Gaza - UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) Chair - Statement – The Question of Palestine, 08 February 2024.
    3. Francesca Albanese, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, 20 October 2023.
    4. Human Rights Council Fifty-sixth session, Detailed findings on attacks carried out on and after 7 October 2023 in Israel, 10 June 2024.
    5. Human Rights Council, Fifty sixth session, 18 June–12 July 2024, Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, 27 May 2024.
    6. ICRC , March 2023, THE PRINCIPLE OF DISTINCTION, March 2023.
    7. International Criminal Court, Report of the Panel of Experts in International Law, 20 May 2024.
    8. Security Council Report, Children and Armed Conflict: Annual Open Debate, 25 Jun 2024.
    9. Unicef, State of Palestine, 2024 Revision 3 (June 2024).
    10. United Nations Meetings Coverage and Press Releases, Facing Record-High Violations in 2023, 26 June 2024.

     

    1. F) WebSites
    2. Al-Mughrabi,  & Farge, E. (2025, July 29). How many Palestinians has Israel's Gaza offensive killed? https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-many-palestinians-has-israels-gaza-offensive-killed-2025-03-24/
    3. Becker, Jo (2024, Jun 14). Israel Joins UN ‘List of Shame’ for Abuses Against Children in War [EN/AR] - occupied Palestinian territory. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/israel-joins-un-list-shame-abuses-against-children-war-enar
    4. Goldman, R. (2023, October 15). How the ‘laws of war’ apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. https://theconversation.com/how-the-laws-of-war-apply-to-the-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas-215493#
    5. Heffes, , & Holmes, S. (2023, May 12). Influencing Armed Actors to Increase the Protection of Children in Armed Conflict. https://www.opiniojuris.org/2023/12/05/influencing-armed-actors-to-increase-the-protection-of-children-in-armed-conflict/
    6. Save The Children (2023, December 9). Deaths by starvation and disease may top deaths by bombs as families squeezed into deadly “safe zones”, two months into Gaza crisis. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/deaths-starvation-and-disease-may-top-deaths-bombs-families-squeezed-deadly-safe-zones-two
    7. Speri, Alice (2023, October 14). Before They Vowed to Annihilate Hamas, Israel Officials Consideration it an Asset. https://www.theintercept.com/2023/10/14/hamas-israel-palestinian-authority/
    8. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (2023, November 1). UN Child Rights Committee condemns killing of children in Gaza Strip. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/11/un-child-rights-committee-condemns-killing-children-gaza-strip/
    9. Tsagourias, Nicholas (2023, July 22). ISRAEL – HAMAS 2023 SYMPOSIUM – ISRAEL’S RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENCE AGAINST HAMAS. https://liber.westpoint.edu/pro-israel-lawfare-symbolism-or-genuine-legal-concern/
    10. UN News (2009, January 13). Effect of conflict on Gaza’s children ‘devastating,’ says UN rights monitoring body. https://news.un.org/en/story/2009/01/287452
    11. UNICEF Organization. Strengthening the Convention on the Rights of the Child: Optional Protocols. https://www.unicef.org/child-rights-convention/strengthening-convention-optional-protocols

     

    References In Persian:

    1. Beygzadeh, E. (2022). International Law. Tehran: Mizan. Vol. 2 (In Persian).
    2. Crowe, J., & Scheuber K. W., (2020). Principles of International Humanitarin Law. Translated by: Mousazadeh, R., Azarpendar, A. R., & Maleki, A. A.; Tehran: Mizan (In Persian).
    3. Zamani, Gh. (2021). International Human Rights Law. Tehran: Khorsandi (In Persian).
    4. Malekiyan, F. (2023). International Criminal Law of Children. Translated by: Azarpendar, A. R. & a group of criminal science researchers. Tehran: Mizan (In Persian).
Public Law Studies Quarterly

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 November 2026
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  • Receive Date: 12 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 11 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 11 November 2024
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