If the conscience of humanity is still alive, today it must cry out:
“Children are not enemies, and infants are not military forces. Shelters must be safe, not targets.”
The recent release of a shocking video showing the evacuation of the Ameneh Orphanage in Tehran’s District 3—during the final days of the 12-day conflict between the Israeli regime and the Islamic Republic of Iran—silently revealed a truth once more: “There is no victory in any war; the only true losers are the defenseless people.” In this video, 60 infants are being carried out of the building by nurses and caregivers, none of whom even wear safety vests, with only thirty minutes left before an impending air strike. The Israeli regime, fully aware that the Ameneh Orphanage has been continuously active on Valiasr Street for 57 years, struck its vicinity twice with severe impacts: once targeting a police building, and another time, the state broadcasting headquarters. The attacks were so intense that the orphanage was evacuated half an hour before the second strike. Thirty minutes to save the lives of infants? Is this the new form of “humanitarian warnings”? Does the Israeli regime truly believe that by giving prior warning to evacuate an area or building, it is fulfilling its human rights responsibilities and adhering to the laws of war?
Previously, Iranian Kurdistan Human Rights Watch had warned in several reports about the human dimensions of this unprecedented war: the targeting of medical centers, ambulances, Red Crescent aid stations, and even nuclear infrastructure—all clear examples of war crimes. But now, with visual evidence of infants fleeing death, the world can no longer turn a blind eye. The question is: In the eyes of Israeli military commanders, are infants sleeping in cradles also considered security threats? Are they nuclear scientists or military commanders?
Israel’s attack on areas like the Ameneh Orphanage in Tehran—though not directly targeted—constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental principles of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and certain international human rights instruments from the perspective of international law and human rights. The principle of distinction between military targets and civilians, and the prohibition of attacking civilian objects (including medical, educational, and childcare facilities), have been clearly and repeatedly violated by the Israeli regime. Articles 6, 19, and 38 of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child also explicitly emphasize the protection of children during wartime. Any attack that directly or indirectly threatens the lives of infants and children is a clear violation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The Ameneh Orphanage is a facility of a completely civilian nature. Even if it wasn’t a direct target, the proximity of the attack to this location and the creation of an actual danger for children exemplify a disregard for the principle of distinction. The principle of proportionality, stating that attacks should not cause excessive harm to civilians relative to the anticipated military advantage, has also been violated in these documented crimes. Israel has also violated the principle of precaution to avoid harm to civilians and the principle of prohibiting indiscriminate attacks, yet it continues to receive Western support. In this war, with the overt and covert support of Western powers, particularly the United States, Israel not only sought to strike Iranian military targets but also escalated terror to such an extent that the 13-million-strong city of Tehran received an unprecedented “irrational and urgent” evacuation warning. A mother who gave birth to her infant in a shelter, a father who lost his child, an elderly person who couldn’t access their medication—all were victims of this violence-centric project.
Today, the only question that can be asked of Netanyahu and Donald Trump—the political partner and media collaborator in this war project—is: “How did you, with bloodstained hands, speak of a ceasefire? Why, if there was victory to be had, did you suddenly demand the cannons fall silent?”
The answer is clear: “There was no achievement for the perpetrators of this war. Just like what has happened for years in Gaza, and each time the phrase ‘Israel’s security’ was used to cover up the truth.”
As human rights activists, today, beyond political analysis, military assessment, and stereotypical stances, we demand from the international community:
- The formation of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate war crimes in Iran.
- Holding Israeli military and political commanders accountable in international courts.
- Redefining ‘protection of civilians’ within the framework of asymmetrical and technology-driven warfare.
- An immediate halt to arms sales to parties violating human rights, especially in the Middle East.
Finally, it must be said: The image of a nurse carrying an infant to save them from destruction speaks louder than a thousand statements and a thousand UN sessions.
