International Children's Day in GAZA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates emphasizes, on the occasion of the International Children's Day, observed on November 20th each year, the right of the Palestinian child to live in safety and peace. It calls for the necessary legal protection against the increasing brutality and crimes of the Israeli occupation authorities and settlers against the Palestinian people. The Ministry notes that since the beginning of the Israeli aggression and genocide in Gaza, 12,200 Palestinians, including 5,500 children, have been killed, and 29,500 have been injured, with more than half being women and children.

The ongoing war of inhumanity has turned Gaza into a mass grave for children, with 4,000 children currently missing. The Ministry highlights the displacement of 1.6 million Palestinians due to Israeli targeting of civilian areas, including homes, schools, universities, hospitals, and places of worship. The Israeli airstrikes have completely destroyed 54,000 housing units and partially damaged 222,000. Additionally, 26 out of 35 hospitals are out of service, 205 medical personnel have been killed, and 278 educational institutions have been destroyed.

The Ministry condemns the deliberate and widespread Israeli attacks, not limited to Gaza, as 215 Palestinians, including 53 children, have been killed in various areas of the West Bank since October 7, 2023. The total number of Palestinian children killed in the West Bank this year is 96, with 200 children currently arbitrarily detained in Israeli prisons under inhumane conditions.

These inhumane and unlawful practices by the Israeli occupation threaten the humanitarian security of Palestinian children, violating their fundamental rights, including the right to self-determination, contrary to international law, including humanitarian law and human rights law. The Ministry concludes by urging the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to fulfill its commitments, take necessary measures to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people, particularly children, and hold Israel accountable for its crimes, including listing Israel, the occupying authority, its army, and settlers on the UN's shame list for violating children's rights in armed conflicts.

SWAHILI

Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Uhamiaji mchini Palestina,inasisitiza, katika Siku ya Kimataifa ya Watoto, iliyoadhimishwa Novemba 20 kila mwaka kuhusu haki ya mtoto wa Kipalestina kuishi kwa amani na usalama. Wito unatolewa kwa ulinzi wa kisheria dhidi ya ukatili na uhalifu wa mamlaka ya uvamizi ya Israel na walowezi dhidi ya watu wa Kipalestina. 

Wizara inasisitiza kuwa tangu kuanza kwa uvamizi na mauaji ya Israel huko Gaza, Wapalestina 12,200, ikiwa ni pamoja na watoto 5,500, wameuawa na wengine 29,500 kujeruhiwa, huku zaidi ya nusu yao wakiwa wanawake na watoto.

Vita hivi visivyo vya kibinadamu vimegeuza Gaza kuwa kaburi la pamoja la watoto, na watoto 4,000 hadi sasa hawajulikani walipo. 

Wizara inaonyesha kuondoshwa kwa Wapalestina 1.6 milioni kutokana na kulengwa na Israel kwenye maeneo ya raia, ikiwa ni pamoja na majumbani, mashuleni, vyuo vikuu, hospitali, na maeneo ya ibada. 

Mashambulio ya anga ya Israel yamesambaratisha kabisa nyumba 54,000 na kufanya uharibifu katika nyumba 222,000. Aidha, hospitali 26 kati ya 35 hazifanyi kazi, wafanyakazi wa afya 205 wameuawa, na taasisi za elimu 278 zimesambaratishwa.

Wizara inalaani mashambulio ya Israel ya makusudi ilhali sio tu Gaza, kwani Wapalestina 215, ikiwa ni pamoja na watoto 53, wameuawa katika maeneo mbalimbali ya Ukingo wa Magharibi tangu Oktoba 7, 2023. Jumla ya watoto wa Kipalestina waliouawa Ukingo wa Magharibi mwaka huu ni 96, na watoto 200 wanashikiliwa kiholela na kinyama katika magereza ya Israeli.

Mbinu hizi zisizo za kibinadamu na zisizo halali za uvamizi wa Israeli zinatishia usalama wa kibinadamu wa watoto wa Kipalestina, kukiuka haki zao za msingi, ikiwa ni pamoja na haki ya kujiamulia, kinyume cha sheria za kimataifa, ikiwa ni pamoja na sheria na haki za kibinadamu. 

Wizara inahitimisha kwa kuzisihi jumuia za kimataifa, hasa Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa, kutimiza ahadi zake, kuchukua hatua zinazofaa kuhakikisha ulinzi wa watu wa Kipalestina, hasa watoto, na kiwajibisha Israel kwa jinai zake, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuorodhesha Israel, mamlaka ya uvamizi, jeshi lake, na walowezi kwenye orodha ya aibu ya UN kwa kukiuka haki za watoto katika migogoro ya kijeshi.