United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a warning that Israeli settler groups may be added to a global blacklist over violations against children. Speaking amid concerns about the rising number of violations, Guterres highlighted a significant increase in cases involving Palestinian children.

According to UN data for 2025, there were 38,558 verified “grave violations” globally affecting 24,174 children, marking the highest number recorded since the UN began tracking such incidents in 1996. This figure represents a troubling surge in violence and rights abuses against minors in conflict zones.

The data also revealed a 34 percent increase in the number of children killed during the year, totaling 6,266 deaths worldwide. Of these, the UN confirmed that 2,668 Palestinian children were killed in Gaza, with an additional 57 deaths recorded in the West Bank. These figures underscore the heightened risks faced by children in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly in areas controlled or influenced by Israeli settler groups.

Guterres’ remarks reflect growing international concern over the impact of ongoing hostilities on children’s safety and wellbeing. The potential inclusion of Israeli settler organizations on the UN’s blacklist highlights increasing scrutiny of actions attributed to these groups and their implications for child protection within the region.

The UN continues to monitor developments closely as it seeks to hold accountable those responsible for violations against children and to advocate for improved safeguards in conflict-affected communities worldwide.