Speaking at a Security Council general debate on children and armed conflict on June 18, 2015, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his "deep alarm" only about Israel. Millions of children around the world suffer violence and displacement due to armed conflict in states such as Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, and South Sudan, but the latest annual report from the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict spends more ink on Israel than any other state. At the same time, the Secretary-General in his statement never even once mentioned "Hamas." He also didn't censure Palestinian use of children as human shields. And he didn't call for the Syrian regime to stop barrel bombing or using chlorine gas upon Syrian children. He directed his one specific call to action only to Israel.
In the Secretary-General's words:
"I am also deeply alarmed at the suffering of so many children as a result of Israeli military operations in Gaza last year. I urge Israel to take concrete and immediate steps, including by reviewing existing policies and practices, to protect and prevent the killing and maiming of children, and to respect the special protections afforded to schools and hospitals."