Former Indian judge Srinivasan Muralidhar is spearheading the most significant United Nations investigation to date into the killing of Palestinian children in Gaza. The 64-year-old retired judge, who gained prominence in India for his principled stance during religious riots in New Delhi, currently chairs the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.
The commission, mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in May 2021, recently released a 94-page report that characterizes Israel`s military actions in Gaza as part of a genocidal campaign. Justice Muralidhar joined the commission in November 2025. The report details alleged Israeli violations from October 2023 through October 2025, finding that the military killed at least 20,179 Palestinian children during that period, representing nearly 30 percent of the total death toll in the territory.
Muralidhar’s career has been defined by his willingness to confront authority. In 2020, he was abruptly transferred from the Delhi High Court in a middle-of-the-night move, widely criticized as a political maneuver to halt his judicial oversight concerning riots and disappearances. That experience of standing up against powerful political figures, often at a significant personal cost, has brought a unique perspective to his role within the UN framework.
The commission’s recent findings are based on a comprehensive investigation into the root causes of the conflict and specific violations of international humanitarian law. By documenting the systematic targeting of minors, the report challenges the narrative that such casualties are merely incidental to the war. Instead, it argues that the scale and nature of the killings suggest a deliberate disregard for the protection of children in a conflict zone.
The inclusion of a figure like Muralidhar, who brings deep experience in complex human rights litigation, adds weight to the commission’s conclusions. His work with the UN aims to create a robust evidentiary record that could be used for future legal accountability. As the commission continues its mandate, its reports serve as a vital tool for international observers and rights organizations pushing for an end to the hostilities and justice for the victims of the war in Gaza.
