Children carrying white flags were shot: UN inquiry chief on Gaza killings

A United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory headed by former High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar has said that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children during the Gaza war, citing evidence contained in a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council that documents thousands of child deaths and injuries.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, he said the commission found that more than 20,000 children were killed and over 44,000 injured across Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem between October 7, 2023 and October 7, 2025.

TARGETED KILLINGS OF CHILDREN, REPORT FINDS

Asked about the findings contained in a 100-page report released on June 23 by the commission, Muralidhar said the inquiry had documented a staggering toll on Palestinian children during the conflict.

"What the report establishes is that between 7th October 2023 and 7th October 2025... more than 20,000 children in Gaza and some in West Bank and East Jerusalem have been killed. More than 44,000 have been injured," Muralidhar said.

According to him, the commission concluded that the scale and pattern of deaths went beyond collateral damage from military operations.

"The killing and maiming of children is so targeted," he said, alleging that Israeli forces used both high-yield bombs in densely populated areas and precision weapons such as drones and sniper rifles.

"The other way they do it is to use what are called quadcopters, drones and sniper rifles," he said. "The precision of these quadcopters is very high."

Muralidhar also cited testimony from doctors, witnesses and videos reviewed by the commission, including footage of Israeli soldiers speaking on camera. He said doctors reported treating large numbers of children with gunshot wounds to the head and neck, while some soldiers described using advanced drones capable of identifying targets from a distance.

"We're finding that a large number of children come in with single-shot wounds to their brains and to their necks for maximum damage," he said.

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ORPHANAGES DESTROYED

The report also details the destruction of civilian infrastructure affecting children, including schools, universities, hospitals and orphanages.

"Ninety-seven percent of all the schools in Gaza have been completely destroyed," Muralidhar said. "Many children have missed formal education for more than three years now."

He said doctors who testified before the commission described treating large numbers of children who had lost entire families. According to Muralidhar, medical workers coined the term "Wounded Child with No Surviving Family" to categorise such cases.

The commission also documented allegations of mistreatment of minors in detention. Muralidhar said evidence came from interviews with children, doctors and other witnesses, as well as material verified by the commission's researchers and forensic analysts.

"We have enormous amount of evidence of torture of children in detention, children being deliberately maimed and killed by the Israeli defence forces and sometimes by the settlers," he said.

At the same time, Muralidhar noted that the commission had also documented abuses by Palestinian armed groups.

"We have also recorded in an earlier report... the actions of the Palestinian armed groups against children," he said. "Hamas and Palestinian armed groups are also responsible for some of these killings and beatings of children."

TIME FOR ACTION, NOT JUST CONDEMNATION

Calling for greater international action, Muralidhar said expressions of concern were no longer enough.

"The time for just expressing outrage, expressing condemnation, all that is over. We need action," he said.

He urged countries with military, trade or diplomatic ties to Israel to investigate individuals allegedly involved in abuses and consider using principles of universal jurisdiction to pursue accountability.

The commission's findings were presented to the UN Human Rights Council this week. Muralidhar said Israel had declined to engage with the inquiry but insisted the commission remained open to receiving information from Israeli authorities.

"Israel has refused to participate. We invite Israel to participate. We invite Israel to provide whatever evidence it has in its possession," he said.

Asked about next steps following publication of the report, Muralidhar pointed to ongoing proceedings before the Court of Justice and the Criminal Court, saying member states must now decide whether to act on the evidence gathered by the commission.

"The ball is in the court of the international community," he said. "They have to now pick up all these pieces of evidence which is there in the public domain and do something about it."

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