UN Adds Israel to ‘Blacklist’ for Harming Children in Conflict

Israel's ongoing attack on Gaza has resulted in the death of over 15,500 Palestinian children and widespread malnutrition, leading to the UN blacklisting Israel.

An Israeli diplomat has confirmed that the United Nations is adding Israel to a blacklist of countries that persecute children in armed conflict.

Israel's UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan said in a social media post on Friday that he was officially informed of the decision by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

"It is completely wrong and unjust," said Erdan, who condemned the move and described the Israeli army as the most moral in the world.

Reacting to Erdan's comments, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the call was made to give advance notice to countries newly added to the blacklist.

The Palestinian Authority has welcomed this decision. Senior Palestinian official Riyad al-Maliki said the decision was delayed but correct.

More than 36,700 Palestinians, including 15,571 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks since early October, according to the Gaza government's media office.

UN experts say Israeli restrictions on the delivery of food, water, medicine and other essential goods have created a humanitarian crisis, with some areas facing the threat of famine.

According to UNICEF, 90 percent of Palestinian children in Gaza are "severely malnourished," a serious problem.

The World Health Organization said three out of four Palestinian children in Gaza went hungry for at least one day in three days.

Defense for Children International-Palestine has also said that thousands of Palestinian children have been seriously injured as a result of Israel's continuous attacks.

A 15-year-old Palestinian boy named Muhammad told the DCIP that he was paralyzed from the waist down after an Israeli drone attack. "I spend most of my time in bed, and my injuries are expensive to treat," Muhammad said.

In January, Save the Children said more than 10 children were mutilated every day in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called the UN decision "shameful". "The Israeli army is the most moral army in the world, and no fake report can change that fact."