Israel said set to show UN official proof most slain Palestinian minors have terror links

Israel reportedly intends to present a visiting senior UN official with proof that most of the Palestinian minors killed by Israeli troops have been involved with terror groups and were engaged in military or semi-military activity.

UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict Virginia Gamba is currently on a visit to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, during which she will visit senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, as part of her annual report of harm to children in the conflict.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in July that “Israel should be listed” among the countries with the most violation against children in armed conflict, if it does not improve the situation of children in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza by next year, following its annual review of children in armed conflict, which found Israel responsible for 2,934 violations against minors in the areas in 2021.

Unnamed diplomatic sources cited by Channel 13 news and the Kan public broadcaster say that officials will present Gamba with information on the “cynical use of kids by Palestinians, especially by terror groups: From recruiting children and teenagers as combatants to weapons training, summer camps, indoctrination, and using UNRWA schools as shelters for terrorists.”

“Regarding the Palestinian casualties, Israel will present data indicating that most teenagers were operatives of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, or engaged in military activity or military-linked activity,” the source told Channel 13.

“Additionally, Israel expects Gamba to examine the Palestinians’ use of teenagers as part of terror activities.”

Gamba is reportedly set to meet IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi and other top military and police brass, as well as Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz and a Supreme Court justice. She will also meet Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.