As children around the world today celebrate World Children’s Day, the dreams of the Palestinian children are decimated by the measures of the Israeli occupation, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates.
‘World Children’s Day this day at a time when the lives, rights, homes, schools, and dreams of Palestinian children are being deliberately and systematically decimated by the illegal Israeli occupation regime. Palestinian children face ongoing arbitrary, indiscriminate, and excessive use of force, resulting in a tragic situation of widespread suffering and long-lasting trauma,’ said the Foreign Ministry in a statement.
‘Over the past six weeks, Israel’s murderous assault on Gaza has killed more than 5500 children while thousands of others remain under the rubble and presumed dead. Thousands more are injured. Palestinian children who survive this slaughter are made to endure inhumane conditions of displacement, starvation, dehydration, and lack of basic elements of life imposed on them by Israe
l, the occupying Power,’ it added.
‘This atrocious reality also extends to Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank, where the occupying army and settler militias have displaced dozens of families and murdered 96 children since the start of 2023, including 53 who were killed in the past 44 days. Meanwhile, 200 Palestinian children languish in Israeli detention centers, deprived of their most basic rights,’ said the Foreign Ministry.
It added: ‘The structural and systemic violence against children is emblematic of the illegal occupation regime’s entrenched agenda of perpetual colonization, dispossession, and apartheid. This campaign of cruelty against Palestinian children as well as the prospects of their life in dignity, safety, and freedom is a deliberate assault on Palestine’s future.
‘The State of Palestine will continue to take determined steps to protect and defend the dignity, rights, and life of Palestinian children, including seeking accountability for war crimes committed against children.
‘In this connection, we call on the United Nations Secretary-General to finally include the Israeli occupying forces and settler militias in the United Nations list of parties that commit grave violations affecting children in situations of armed conflict. Furthermore, the State of Palestine calls on all states, particularly the High Contracting Parties to the Geneva Conventions, to take effective action to put an end to the ongoing military aggression on Palestinian children, including by holding Israeli government officials, military commanders, and forces, as well as settlers accountable for their grave breaches and heinous crimes against Palestinian children.’
Source: Palestine news and Information Agency – WAFA
Caretaker Minister of Interior and Municipalities, Judge Bassam Mawlawi, on Monday received in his office at the ministry, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Lebanon, IVO Freijsen, with whom he discussed the Syrian displacement dossier.
Minister Mawlawi also welcomed in his office, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Dorothy Klaus, with discussions touching on public affairs and the work of the Commission, in light of the current developments.
Mawlawi then met with MP Akram Chehayeb, over the current general situation and services and developmental matters related to Mount Lebanon region.
Source: National news agency – Lebanon