QADER submits its comprehensive report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

QADER for Community Development submitted its report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child regarding Israel's fifth and sixth combined periodic reports about Palestinian children in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem, particularly those with disabilities, since October 7, 2023.

This report precedes the comprehensive discussion to be held by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) with Israel at the UN headquarters in Geneva, scheduled between August 26 and September 13, 2024, concerning its record under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its obligations.

The methodology of this report was based on the list of issues addressed by the CRC to Israel regarding the combined fifth and sixth periodic reports (CRC/C/ISR/Q/5-6) and Israel's responses (CRC/C/ISR/RQ/5-6), with a focus on the additional list of issues directed at Israel (CRC/C/ISR/Q/5-6/Add.1), published by the Committee on March 8, 2024. This included Israel's response to the systematic and large-scale military assault launched by the Israeli occupation forces on Gaza since October 7, 2023, which directly targeted civilians and civilian objects, particularly children and women, resulting in catastrophic effects on children across all rights outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, based on reliable information and evidence from UN bodies, specialized agencies, and independent international and local organizations about the impact of the aggression on Palestinian children.

The methodology also referenced the important ruling issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 26, 2024, in response to South Africa's request against Israel to take measures to ensure the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Gaza, which was joined by several other countries. It also considered the three temporary measures issued by the ICJ in response to this request: the first temporary measure within the decision, the second temporary measure issued on March 28, 2024, and the third temporary measure issued on May 24, 2024. Additionally, the report considered the significant advisory opinion issued by the ICJ on July 19, 2024, regarding the legal questions posed by the UN General Assembly in December 2022 about the legal consequences of Israel's long-term occupation of Palestinian territory since 1967, and the court's conclusion of the "illegality of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and its consequences," as well as Israel's responsibility, the UN, international organizations, and countries in applying the advisory opinion to end Israel's illegal presence in Palestinian territory as soon as possible.

The report detailed, with reliable evidence, matching results, and analysis, the connection to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Israel's obligations concerning the rights of Palestinian children under occupation. It focused on the military attack on Gaza since October 7, the escalation of violations in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and their impact on civilians, particularly children, as outlined in the CRC's list of issues directed at Israel, with an emphasis on the killing and injury of thousands of Palestinian children, the severe disabilities among Palestinian children in besieged Gaza due to direct targeting, the large-scale and systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure in Gaza, especially homes, schools, and hospitals, and its compounded impact on children. The report also addressed the spread of famine, food insecurity, forced displacement, environmental catastrophe, the spread of diseases, arbitrary detention and torture of children, and ill-treatment.

The report discussed the three temporary measures issued by the ICJ concerning Israel's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) toward Palestinian children in occupied Palestinian territory, with a focus on Palestinian children with disabilities under Articles 23 and 38 of the Convention. It also referred to the ICJ's advisory opinion on the illegality of the occupation of Palestinian territory and its consequences, in connection with children's rights and the collaborations among international frameworks for protecting children's rights. The report concluded by highlighting the responsibilities of the Israeli occupation, the UN, international organizations, and countries to comply with the court's orders.

The report also reviewed the four Security Council resolutions issued regarding Gaza since October 7, 2023, in relation to Israel's obligations as the illegal occupying power in Palestinian territory under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. These included Resolution 2712 (2023), which emphasized forced displacement of civilians, including children, and violations of international law, and called for ensuring that UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross had full, rapid, and safe access to provide ongoing humanitarian assistance, including food, water, fuel, and medical supplies throughout Gaza. Resolution 2720 (2023) addressed the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, humanitarian access, and the protection of humanitarian workers. Resolution 2728 (2024) emphasized ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches all of Gaza, while Resolution 2735 (2024) called for an immediate and complete ceasefire.

The report provided comprehensive and intensive recommendations to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to support the international committee in documenting the facts with reliable evidence about Palestinian children under colonial occupation and the apartheid system in the Palestinian context, ahead of the comprehensive discussion between the Committee and Israel at the UN headquarters in Geneva regarding Israel's record under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its obligations.