U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned in June that Israeli settler groups could be added to a global blacklist for grave violations against children if high numbers of abuses continue in 2026 [1, 2]. He said, "Israeli settler groups should be listed if the high number of violations is repeated in 2026" and expressed alarm at "the staggering rise in attacks carried out by Israeli settlers resulting in grave violations against Palestinian children" [1].

The U.N.'s 2025 annual report on Children and Armed Conflict documented a record 38,558 grave violations affecting 24,174 children worldwide, the highest since the mandate began in 1996 [1, 2]. These violations include killing, maiming, rape and sexual violence, attacks on schools and hospitals [1, 2]. In 2025, 14,224 children were killed or maimed, including 6,266 killed, representing a 34% increase over 2024 [1, 2].

The report verified the killing of 2,668 Palestinian children in Gaza and 57 in the West Bank in 2025 [1, 2]. Israel's military forces were linked to 9,465 grave violations, while Israeli settlers were attributed 326 violations during the year [1, 2]. Notably, Israel has been listed previously in UN annexes for alleged violations, but the 2025 report singled out Israeli settlers as a potential new listing [1, 2].

Palestinian armed groups, including Hamas’ armed wing, remain blacklisted with 2,806 violations attributed to them for actions including killing, maiming, and abductions of children [1, 2]. The Gaza war, triggered by the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to a military response killing tens of thousands of Palestinians [1, 2].

Countries with the highest levels of child rights violations in 2025 included the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, and Somalia [1, 2]. Guterres said he was "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" [1].

The U.N. Secretary-General’s warning on June 17-18, 2026, highlighted the potential listing of Israeli settler groups if violations continue at the same rate during the year [1, 2].