“The essence of childhood has been destroyed”: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023 by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel

329. The conduct of the Israeli authorities, Israeli security forces and Israeli settlers detailed in this report does not constitute mere incidental harm or collateral damage done to Palestinian children. On the contrary, Israeli security forces and Israeli settlers have directly and intentionally targeted Palestinian children in many instances, killing tens of thousands and leaving tens of thousands of others with irreversible harm, including long-term physical and mental harm.

330. Israel continues to blatantly disregard the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 in respect of the Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and, importantly, the orders for provisional measures issued on 26 January, 28 March 2024 and 24 May 2024426 in the case of the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), which are
binding on Israel.

331. Based on the evidence reviewed, and consistent with its previous reports, the Commission finds on reasonable grounds that the Israeli authorities and the Israeli security forces have continued to commit the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.