Ammon News - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that Israeli settler groups could be added ​to a global blacklist for violations against children as he voiced alarm at a "staggering" rise in violations ‌against Palestinian children.

The world body's annual report on Children and Armed Conflict recorded 38,558 "grave violations" globally in 2025, affecting 24,174 children, the latter figure a record since CAAC's mandate began in 1996.

The data showed 14,224 children killed or maimed, with a 34% rise over 2024 in the ​number killed to 6,266. It said the United Nations had verified the killing of 2,668 Palestinian children in ​Gaza and 57 in the West Bank.

"Countries with the highest levels of violations in 2025 were the Occupied Palestinian Territory ​and Israel, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Somalia," a senior U.N. official said in a briefing on the report.

SETTLER GROUPS IN FOCUS
Israel itself already features in the report's so-called list of shame annexes for alleged violations, but the latest version for the first time ​highlights settlers as a potential future listing.

"I am appalled by the magnitude of grave violations against children in the Occupied ​Palestinian Territory and Israel, notably by the widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas," Guterres said in the report.

"I am deeply alarmed ‌at ⁠the staggering rise in attacks carried out by Israeli settlers resulting in grave violations against Palestinian children,” Guterres added.

He said Israeli settler groups should be listed if the high number of violations is repeated in 2026.

The report said 9,465 grave violations were attributed to Israeli forces and 326 to Israeli settlers.

Reuters