Gaza Herald – Human rights groups warned of the alarming recruitment and arming of minors in eastern Gaza, particularly in so-called “yellow zones” under Israeli control. Geneva-based organizations reported that armed militias forcibly involved children in security and combat tasks, violating both international humanitarian law and human rights conventions.
The joint statement emphasized that these practices constitute a direct assault on children’s right to safety, protection, and healthy development, exposing those responsible to potential criminal liability under international law. The report cited documented cases of minors being trained, armed, and deployed in combat roles.
The organizations referenced the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, which prohibits the recruitment of anyone under 18 into hostilities and obliges states to criminalize and prevent such practices.
Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, recruiting children under 15 or using them in hostilities qualifies as a war crime. Leaders and commanders facilitating such acts can be prosecuted for individual criminal responsibility, whether in international or non-international conflicts.
The report also highlighted the occupying power’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention to protect civilians, particularly children, in occupied territories. Any support, neglect, or tolerance of child recruitment exposes Israel to potential international legal accountability.
Additionally, testimonies documented sexual harassment and abuse of women in areas controlled by these armed groups, illustrating a pattern of overlapping violations affecting both children and women and threatening societal security and family structures.
Human rights groups concluded that exploiting children amid socio-economic vulnerability and conflict not only endangers their lives but also undermines their access to education and healthy growth, leaving long-term psychological and social scars. They affirmed ongoing monitoring and coordination with national and international legal mechanisms, including the ICC, to hold perpetrators accountable.
