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Palestinians urge UN to list Israel as violator of children’s rights

October 1, 2018 at 12:06 pm

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in Gaza [Ali Jadallah/Anadolu Agency]

The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) today sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging him to list Israel as a state that “violates children’s rights” in its annual report on children and armed conflict, reported Xinhua.

The letter, sent in the name of PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat, came two days after Israeli occupation forces shot dead two Palestinian children during protests in the occupied Gaza Strip.

Since 30 March, dozens of Palestinian children have been shot by Israeli snipers with live ammunition while posing no threat to Israeli soldiers and in many cases, far from the perimeter fence.

“From reports you received from UN agencies working in occupied Palestine and through our bilateral channels, it becomes evident that Israel, as an occupying power, continues its grave violations of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention and other treaties, including UN Convention on Right of the Child,” the letter states.

The Israel-Palestine mask is off. It may never be reworn with the same naivety

According to Xinhua, “the senior PLO official accused Israel of violating children’s rights, including murdering and maiming of children, abduction of children, attacks against schools and hospitals, and denial of humanitarian access for children.”

“Erekat also reiterated the demand for international protection for the Palestinian civilians, adding that over 350 Palestinian children are currently jailed in Israel,” the report added.