Overview:

A number of Palestinian, Israeli, and international BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are behind a concerted effort to falsely accuse the IDF of violating the rights of Palestinian minors in order to impose sanctions against Israel. Some of these NGOs also have confirmed or reported ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) terrorist organization, designated as such by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.

In their advocacy efforts and cooperation with UN agencies, the NGOs behind this campaign exploit children’s rights to demonize Israel, not to protect children. For instance, one group of NGO activists state that “The No Way to Keep a Child Campaign will continue until the occupation is ended.”

A central aim is to convince the UN Secretary-General to blacklist the IDF by including it in the “annex” to his annual report on grave violators of children’s rights. UNICEF and a number of NGOs, including Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), B’Tselem, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Save the Children, and Watchlist are leaders of this dimension of the campaign.