UN says Children are the main victims of the Israel-Palestine war
UN authorities on Wednesday expressed dismay that children are the main victims of violence and the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Palestine, which continues to worsen.
"In any war, all children suffer first and most", said the UNICEF’s Executive Director and called on both sides of the conflict to end the violence, diffuse tensions, and protect civilians.
"UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, insists that minors must be given special protection against any form of violence," stated his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, on Wednesday.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director, Henrietta Fore, noted that at least 14 children in Palestinian territory and one in Israel had been killed since Monday.
"The situation is at a dangerous tipping point," Fore highlighted, "with the growing level of violence and its devastating impact on children."
"Another 95 children in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and three on Israeli soil were injured in the past five days," she added.
Meanwhile, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, reported that the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate into ‘the most serious escalation between Israel and Palestinian militants in years.’
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict expresses her deep concern at the recent spiral of violence in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and she calls on all parties to ensure that boys and girls are protected from the effects of the violence and to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further escalation of violence. Children are always the most vulnerable members of society and the first victims of violence in times of conflict. “I am gravely concerned by the serious and long-term consequences of violence on the physical and mental wellbeing of children, and I appeal to all parties to immediately act to protect children,” said the Special Representative.
While a peaceful resolution to the present situation must be prioritized, she reminds all parties of their obligations and responsibilities under international law, including the principles of distinction, precaution, and proportionality in the use of force. “It is time to put in place concrete measures to better protect children, schools and hospitals from the effects of violence,” she concluded.
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