Ex-India Judge Faces Risks After Damning UN Report on Gaza Children
A retired Indian judge who led one of the United Nations' most controversial investigations into the Gaza war says speaking the truth about alleged abuses against Palestinian children comes with significant personal and professional risks.
Justice Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, has become an international figure after presenting a report that accuses Israeli authorities of deliberately targeting Palestinian children during the conflict. The report alleges that Israeli actions may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide under international law. Israel has strongly rejected the findings, calling the investigation politically biased and denying that it deliberately targets civilians.
The report documents widespread destruction of schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure, while concluding that children have suffered a disproportionate share of the war's human cost. According to the commission, thousands of children have been killed or injured, while many more have been displaced, orphaned or left without access to education and healthcare.
Muralidhar's appointment has also drawn attention to his judicial career in India. During his years on the bench, he handled several politically sensitive cases involving communal violence, human rights, freedom of expression and alleged enforced disappearances. His rulings often placed him at odds with powerful political interests, earning him a reputation as an independent judge willing to challenge state authorities despite potential personal consequences.
In recent interviews, Muralidhar acknowledged that leading such a high-profile international investigation carries risks, but said judges and investigators have a duty to follow evidence wherever it leads. He stressed that the commission's findings are based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, medical records and other documented evidence collected over months of investigation.
The report has intensified international debate over accountability in the Gaza conflict. While several human rights organizations have welcomed the findings and called for further legal action, Israel continues to reject the commission's conclusions and questions the credibility of the UN inquiry.