By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) -A U.N. committee on Thursday accused Israel of severe breaches of a global treaty protecting children's rights, saying its military actions in Gaza had a catastrophic impact on them and are among the worst violations in recent history.

Israel has long blamed Hamas for civilian and children deaths, arguing that the militant group uses innocent people as human shields.

UN committee presents findings on Israel’s treatment of children in Gaza war Ann Skelton, chair of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, vice chairs Bragi Gudbrandsson and Luis Ernesto Pedernera Reyna and committee member Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi brief the media on the committee's findings after a series of hearings with Israel over its treatment of children,