UN Warns Israeli Settlers Face Blacklisting Over Record Violations Against Children
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Wednesday that the UN could add Israeli settler groups to a global blacklist, following a “staggering” rise in violations against Palestinian children.
The world body’s annual Children and Armed Conflict report for 2025 recorded an unprecedented 38,558 grave violations globally. Consequently, these figures represent a record high since the UN established the mandate in 1996. The report confirmed that conflicts globally killed or maimed 14,224 children last year. Specifically, the UN verified the deaths of 2,668 Palestinian children in Gaza and 57 in the West Bank.
A Record Surge in Violations
“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 stated in the report.
Furthermore, the UN chief highlighted a sharp increase in settler violence, stating, “I am deeply anxious at the staggering rise in attacks carried out by Israeli settlers resulting in grave violations against Palestinian children.” He explicitly warned that the UN would list settler groups if these violations continue through 2026.
The 2025 data attributes 9,465 violations to Israeli forces and 326 to Israeli settlers, while Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas’ armed wing, accounted for 2,806 violations. The UN maintains Hamas and its affiliated factions on its blacklist for killing, maiming, and abducting children.
Rising Tensions and Implications
While Israel already features on the “list of shame,” this report marks the first time the UN explicitly highlights settlers for a potential future listing. Additionally, Guterres expressed deep concern over the high number of Palestinian children that Israel detains. He noted that reports of severe physical violence and poor conditions during detention “may constitute inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”
This report follows a previous decision by Guterres to add Israel to a separate blacklist for sexual violence, prompting Israel’s foreign ministry to threaten to sever all ties with him. Israel’s UN mission did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the latest report.
Blacklisting does not trigger automatic sanctions. However, it inflicts severe reputational harm and forces parties to negotiate formal action plans with the UN to secure their removal.
