We, the undersigned South Asian Councillors for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace welcome the report of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel. The Commission is chaired by Srinivasan Muralidhar, Retd. Justice of Delhi High Court, India, and includes three other members.
Titled, “The essence of childhood has been destroyed: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory since 7 October 2023”, published on 23 June 2026, the report comprehensively showcases the consistent, direct and intentional targeting of children by the Israeli security forces during the period of 7 October 2023 to 7 October 2025.
The Councillors are deeply shocked by the atrocities against children that the report exposes and condemn the willful killing of children. Extensive, persistent and indiscriminate airstrikes, the use of high-yielding bombs and high-precision weapons on densely populated areas, with the full awareness of the presence of a sizeable number of children, can only lead to the conclusion that the Israeli security forces have adopted this as policy in their aggression against the Gaza population. The finding of the Commission that Palestinian children have been subjected to gender-based violence, sexual violence and torture by the Israeli security forces, is extremely disturbing and must not escape accountability.
The findings of the Commission amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity and are, as the report states, “in violation of the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life and on targeting civilians under international human rights law and international humanitarian law”. Further, the findings confirm the grave violations of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) that are starkly visible from the incidents reported. As South Asian Councillors for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, we seek to draw the world’s attention to this important report, which concludes that Israel’s actions during its aggression and illegal war against Gaza (that resulted in the death of over 20,000 Palestinian children and injuries to 44,000 other between October 2023 and October 2025) were not accidental, but deliberate acts amounting to genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The report provides concrete evidence for international accountability, which must be taken seriously by the international accountability mechanisms.
We strongly believe that the human rights of children should not be made subservient to geopolitical considerations, and there can be no politics in denying children their right to exist. Thus far, the global community has failed to act to halt the genocidal actions of Israel towards Palestinians. We therefore stand in support of the suggestion made by the Commission to the Security Council that “during the time of hostilities no child should die of starvation and no child should die without medical assistance”. We believe that it is time for all the UN member states, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, to agree upon the above suggestions and proactively execute these principles enunciated.
We fully endorse the recommendations of the Commission and call on the duty bearers mentioned in the report for the immediate and effective implementation of these recommendations and not to allow impunity to prevail for such blatant and serious violations of international law. The international community must not allow the recent joint military action of Israel and the US against Iran that has thrown West Asia into turmoil, to distract attention from the continuing atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank. We would also urge the relevant UN member states to exercise ‘universal jurisdiction’ in their domestic courts, carrying out their own investigations and consequent prosecutions of any person who may be accused of these crimes. Such proceedings would promote and encourage international commitment towards accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Israel has persistently shown its contempt for international human rights and humanitarian law, violating every principle enunciated in the UN Charter. It has disregarded all UN resolutions condemning the practices and policies of occupation, of waging aggressive and illegal armed action on the Palestinian population and deliberately allowing impunity for the violence committed by Israeli non-state actors against Palestinians. The international community and member states of the UN must now seriously consider whether the State of Israel deserves the privilege of remaining a member of the UN community of states that are bound by the principles of the UN Charter and international law.
We appreciate the actions of those South Asian countries that have cut ties with Israel in terms of diplomacy, defense and trade. At the same time, we express deep disappointment that the governments of India, Nepal and Sri Lanka have not only maintained relations with Israel but have made little contribution to multilateral efforts to restrain Israel in its roguish behavior in the context of global peace and security and respect for international law.
Signatories:
- Hina Jilani, Pakistan
- Sultana Kamal, Bangladesh
- Dr. Hameeda Hossain, Bangladesh
- Dr. Syeda Hameed, India
- Kanak Mani Dixit, Nepal
- Dr. Sima Samar, Afghanistan
*South Asian Councillors for Human Rights, Democracy and Peace, is a group of independent leaders selected by the South Asian community of human rights defenders affiliated with SAHR to represent the South Asian civil society voice for the promotion of peace and security, human rights and democracy in the region and globally (South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR).