At least 679 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank since October 7, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Among them were 158 children, shows a report from Save the Children. At the same time, 1,400 Palestinian children were injured in Israeli attacks.
On average, at least five children are thus killed or injured every single day in the West Bank
– Not isolated incidents
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– These actions are not isolated incidents, they are part of a trend of increasing Israeli military operations and the use of force that systematically undermines the safety, security and basic rights of Palestinian children, says Save the Children’s regional director in the Middle East, Jeremy Stoner.
– Every day children are killed, injured or left in dire need. This environment deprives children of safety and security when they need it most, he says.
Save the Children demands an immediate end to what they describe as Israel’s excessive use of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, especially the children.
Towed by bulldozers
Among the incidents they highlight is the murder of a 16-year-old Majed Fida Abu Zeina in the Far’a refugee camp outside Tubas in the north of the West Bank.
Abu Zeina was, according to eyewitnesses shot and hit by Three bullets in the leg when he was on his way home. The Israeli soldiers denied Palestinian health workers access to the boy, who shouted “don’t shoot me”.
The soldiers then ordered him to undress, and when he refused, he was shot in the chest and killed.
An Israeli bulldozer finally dragged away the body of the boy.
– Must not allow
Just since the beginning of August, ten Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli attacks in the West Bank, and just before the turn of the month Israel launched a major offensive there.
– We must not allow violence against children to be normalized or accepted as inevitable. We must act quickly and decisively to protect children across the West Bank, says Stoner.
United Nations Human Rights Office condemns the Israeli attacks and concludes that they are carried out in a way that is contrary to international law
UN: Unlawful killings
The Israeli attacks “result in extrajudicial executions and other illegal killings, as well as the destruction of Palestinian homes and infrastructure,” notes the UN Human Rights Office, which also accuses the Israeli army of turning a blind eye to the settlers’ ravages.
Save the Children is also deeply concerned that Israeli forces capture children and mistreat them in Israeli prisons, that many families in the West Bank are forcibly relocated, and that others have their homes demolished.
The aid organization points to the fact that the UN’s highest legal body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), ruled in July that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is contrary to international law and illegal.
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2024-09-17 17:28:04
What are the key factors contributing to the rise in Palestinian child casualties in the West Bank?
Alarming Surge in Palestinian Child Casualties: 679 Killed, 1,400 Injured in West Bank Since October
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported a devastating toll of at least 679 Palestinians killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank since October 7. Among the victims are 158 children, according to a report from Save the Children. Additionally, a staggering 1,400 Palestinian children have been injured in Israeli attacks during the same period. This translates to an average of at least five children being killed or injured every single day in the West Bank.
A Systematic Pattern of Violence
These tragic incidents are not isolated events, but rather part of a disturbing trend of increasing Israeli military operations and the use of force that systematically undermines the safety, security, and basic rights of Palestinian children. ”Every day, children are killed, injured, or left in dire need. This environment deprives children of safety and security when they need it most,” says Jeremy Stoner, Save the Children’s regional director in the Middle East.
The Murder of Majed Fida Abu Zeina
One heart-wrenching example is the case of 16-year-old Majed Fida Abu Zeina, who was brutally murdered in the Far’a refugee camp outside Tubas in the north of the West Bank. According to eyewitnesses, Abu Zeina was shot and hit by three bullets in the leg when he was on his way home. The Israeli soldiers denied Palestinian health workers access to the boy, who desperately shouted “don’t shoot me”. The soldiers then ordered him to undress, and when he refused, he was shot in the chest and killed. In a further act of dehumanization, an Israeli bulldozer was used to drag away the body of the boy.
A Call to Action
Since the beginning of August, ten Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli attacks in the West Bank, and Israel has launched a major offensive in the region. “We must not allow violence against children to be normalized or accepted as inevitable. We must act quickly and decisively to protect children across the West Bank,” urges Stoner. Save the Children demands an immediate end to Israel’s excessive use of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, especially children.
International Condemnation
The United Nations Human Rights Office has also condemned the Israeli attacks, stating that they are carried out in a manner that violates international law and risks further inflaming an already explosive situation. The UN Human Rights Office notes that the Israeli attacks “result in extrajudicial executions and other illegal killings, as well as the destruction of Palestinian homes and infrastructure.”
The Urgent Need for Protection and Accountability
As the international community, it is our responsibility to act swiftly to protect Palestinian children and hold Israel accountable for its actions. We must not turn a blind eye to the systematic violence and human rights violations being perpetrated against Palestinian civilians, particularly children. It is imperative that we work together to ensure that children in the West Bank are afforded the safety, security, and dignity they deserve.
Keywords: Palestinian child casualties, West Bank, Israeli soldiers, settlers, Save the Children, UN Human Rights Office, international law, human rights violations, accountability.
What actions can be taken to protect Palestinian children from violence in the West Bank?
Alarming Rise in Palestinian Child Casualties in the West Bank: A Call to Action
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has reported a devastating toll on Palestinian civilians, particularly children, in the West Bank. Since October 7, at least 679 Palestinians, including 158 children, have been killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers. Moreover, 1,400 Palestinian children have been injured in Israeli attacks, with an average of at least five children killed or injured every single day in the West Bank.
Not Isolated Incidents
These actions are not isolated incidents, but rather a trend of increasing Israeli military operations and the use of force that systematically undermines the safety, security, and basic rights of Palestinian children. According to Save the Children’s regional director in the Middle East, Jeremy Stoner, “Every day, children are killed, injured, or left in dire need. This environment deprives children of safety and security when they need it most.” The organization demands an immediate end to Israel’s excessive use of violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, especially children.
Towed by Bulldozers
One of the disturbing incidents highlighted by Save the Children is the murder of 16-year-old Majed Fida Abu Zeina in the Far’a refugee camp outside Tubas in the north of the West Bank. Abu Zeina was shot and hit by three bullets in the leg when he was on his way home. Israeli soldiers denied Palestinian health workers access to the boy, who shouted “don’t shoot me”. The soldiers then ordered him to undress, and when he refused, he was shot in the chest and killed. An Israeli bulldozer finally dragged away the body of the boy.
Must Not Allow
Since the beginning of August, ten Palestinian children have been killed in Israeli attacks in the West Bank. Just before the turn of the month, Israel launched a major offensive there. Jeremy Stoner emphasizes, “We must not allow violence against children to be normalized or accepted as inevitable. We must act quickly and decisively to protect children across the West Bank.”
UN: Unlawful Killings
The United Nations Human Rights Office condemns the Israeli attacks and concludes that they are carried out in a way that is contrary to international law. The organization calls on Israel and member states, particularly those with influence, to stop attacks by Israeli security forces and settler violence and to prevent the forcible transfer of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
What are the key factors contributing to the rise in Palestinian child casualties in the West Bank?
- Increase in Israeli military operations: The Israeli military has increased its presence and operations in the West Bank, leading to a higher risk of violence against Palestinian civilians, including children.
- Use of excessive force: Israeli soldiers and settlers have been using excessive force against Palestinian civilians, resulting in a disproportionate number of injuries and fatalities among children.
- Lack of accountability: There is a lack of accountability for Israeli soldiers and settlers who commit human rights violations, perpetuating a culture of impunity and encouraging further violence.
- Settler violence: Israeli settlers have been perpetrating violence against Palestinian civilians, including children, with little to no consequences.
- Forcible transfer and displacement: The Israeli military and settlers have been forcibly transferring and displ
