The secretary-general compiles an annual list of states and militias that threaten children, and Israel is set to be included.

The Security Council can then decide on action, but the United States, as a permanent veto-wielding member, has been hesitant to act against Israel.

Last year, Russia was added to the list for its actions in Ukraine, but no action was taken by the council.

The UN is set to include Israel in a report on violations against children in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

The report, which also lists Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, is expected to increase global scrutiny on Israel's conduct in the war and strain its relationship with the UN further.

Israel reacted with outrage, with its UN ambassador, Gilad Erdan, berating the head of UN Secretary-General António Guterres' office in a phone call.

The text discusses the UN's decision to add Israel to its "list of shame" for building settlements in the Palestinian territories.

Hamas's representative, Erdan, criticized the UN and expressed hope that this decision would help Hamas continue its conflict with Israel.

The Palestinian UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, viewed the move as an important step but lamented the loss of Palestinian lives caused by Israel over the years.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the UN for putting itself on the "black list of history." The UN secretary-general's spokesman broke from his usual tone to express disappointment over the situation and the heightened tensions between Israel and the UN.

The United Nations spokesperson, Farhan Haq Dujarric, expressed shock over the leaked recording of a call between the UN and Israel, which was a routine courtesy call for newly listed countries.

The release of the recording on Twitter drew condemnation from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Erdan, and centrist member Benny Gantz.

Israel has been under international criticism for civilian casualties in Gaza during the eight-month-old war, and Gantz quoted Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, to emphasize the importance of Jewish actions over non-Jewish opinions.

Two airstrikes in Gaza resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.

The UN warned that over 1 million Palestinians in Gaza could face the highest level of starvation by mid-May due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The worsening hunger situation is attributed to heavy restrictions on humanitarian access and the collapse of the local food system.

A recent analysis by the Associated Press found that the proportion of women and children being killed in the conflict has declined sharply, contradicting the Gaza Health Ministry's statements.

This trend is significant as it is an indicator of civilian casualties in the destructive conflict.

In October, the coronavirus infection rate in Gaza was above 60 percent.

However, by April, it had dropped below 40 percent.

This significant decrease went unnoticed by the UN and many media outlets for several months.

The Hamas-linked Health Ministry in Gaza has not corrected this misinformation.