Israel added to UN 'blacklist' of parties that harm children in conflict

The United Nations has placed Israel on a blacklist of countries that have committed abuses against children, after Israeli forces killed thousands of Palestinian children in its ongoing war on Gaza.

The placement of Israel was confirmed by Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, who said on X that he received the notification and was outraged at the move. He also shared on the social media platform a recording of the call in which he received the news from a UN official.

"This is simply outrageous and wrong," Erdan said.

"I responded to the shameful decision and said that our army is the most moral in the world. The only one being blacklisted is the secretary general who incentivises and encourages terrorism and is motivated by hatred towards Israel."

Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN secretary general, said during a press briefing on Friday that a UN official called the Israeli ambassador to inform him of the listing as "a courtesy afforded to countries that are newly listed" in the UN's annual "Children in Armed Conflict" report.

"It is done to give those countries a heads-up and avoid leaks," Dujarric told reporters.

That report will be presented to the UN Security Council on 14 June. Reuters reported citing a UN official that the Palestinian groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad would also be added to the list.