Israel's military and Palestinian armed groups have killed children with impunity, Amnesty International said in a report today.
"Children are increasingly bearing the brunt of this [Middle East] conflict. Both the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) and Palestinian armed groups show an utter disregard for the lives of children and other civilians," it said.
The report said the Israeli army had failed to punish soldiers who responded to stone-throwing children with "unlawful and excessive use of lethal force" at demonstrations.
Over 250 Palestinian children have been killed in the current uprising which began in September 2000, including 80 in the first three months, it said.
Palestinian leaders had also failed to rein in militant groups who deliberately kill children and other civilians, Amnesty said. More than 70 Israeli children have died, most of them killed by Palestinian suicide bombers.
"Both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority must act swiftly and firmly to investigate the killing of each and every child and ensure that all those responsible for such crimes are brought to justice," Amnesty said.
It also called for international observers in the region, saying their presence might "have saved the lives of Israeli and Palestinian children as well as other civilians".