Israel has long blamed Hamas for civilian and children deaths, arguing that the militant group uses innocent people as human shields.

The Gaza Health Ministry says over 41,000 Palestinians have been killed since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack triggered the war nearly a year ago.

Khaled Meshal, one of Hamas’s most senior officials, said in an interview that the militant group expects to play a decisive role in the enclave when the war is over.

A U.N. committee on Thursday condemned severe violations by Israel of a global treaty protecting children's rights, saying its military actions since Oct. 7 had a "catastrophic" impact on them. "The committee condemns in the strongest terms the severe violations of rights under the convention in the OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories),

UN committee presents findings on Israel’s treatment of children in Gaza war Ann Skelton, chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, vice chairs Bragi Gudbrandsson and Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna and committee member Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi brief the media on the committee's findings after a series of hearings with Israel over its treatment of children,