GENEVA – The United Nations committee issued an urgent appeal on Thursday, calling for substantial psychosocial assistance for children who have endured trauma due to the recent violence in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Israel. Additionally, the committee announced its intention to review Israel’s treatment of children later this year.
Following a deadly attack by Hamas militants in southern Israel on October 7, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza, resulting in the displacement of the majority of the Palestinian enclave’s 2.3 million residents. The offensive inflicted severe damage to homes and infrastructure, leading to acute shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine.
According to Gaza authorities, the casualties from the offensive primarily include children and women, with nearly 28,000 people reported dead. Hamas militants’ incursion into Israel on October 7 resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 253 hostages.
Ann Skelton, chair of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, expressed grave concern over the situation, stating, “The rights of children living under the state of Israel’s effective control are being gravely violated at a level that has rarely been seen in recent history.” She emphasized the urgent need for extensive psychosocial support for affected children and families, including Israeli children impacted by the attacks and those with family members held hostage.
In response to the committee’s comments, the Israeli diplomatic mission in Geneva announced its intention to issue a statement shortly.
Last week, UNICEF highlighted that nearly all children in Gaza are believed to require mental health assistance.
Skelton noted that Israel had deferred its participation in a scheduled dialogue on child-related issues, now rescheduled for September. She expressed disappointment, stating, “The committee deeply regrets that it did not have the opportunity to review Israel when time is of the essence.”
Skelton also raised concerns about children in the occupied West Bank, where she cited instances of “arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, and violence committed by occupying forces and settlers.” Israel’s military has maintained operations against suspected militants in the West Bank.
Prior to the October 7 assault on Israel, the West Bank had experienced heightened levels of unrest, which escalated further following the Israeli ground invasion of Gaza.