The recent Israeli assault on Gaza left 506 children dead and adversely affected every single surviving child, with reports of trauma resulting in nightmares, bedwetting and aggressive behaviour in a “tragedy” that will last for generations, a United Nations expert has said following his first mission to the region since hostilities ceased.
In a statement released today, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 Makarim Wibisono said Israel’s justification of self-defence for its military operation earlier this year was “untenable”.
He said the violence left 1,479 civilians, 506 of them children, dead. A “staggering” 11,231 civilians – 3,436 of them children – were injured with disabilities that will affect them for the rest of their lives.
Israel’s military operation began on July 7 and lasted 50 days before a ceasefire was negotiated on August 26.
The UN expert was not allowed access to the occupied territories, and instead met with Palestinian human rights activists, officials and victims in Cairo, and those in Gaza via video conference, the statement said.
“This raises serious questions about possible violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law,” Mr Wibisono said in a statement.
“Israel’s claim of self-defense against an occupied population living under a blockade considered to be illegal under international law is untenable.
“In a population where over half of the 1.8 million people are under 18, this is truly a tragedy which will be felt for generations to come.”
The trauma on Gaza’s children was far-reaching and they still face danger from an estimated 7,000 unexploded ordinances across the Gaza Strip, he said.
228 schools were damaged and 26 of them destroyed or damaged beyond repair, meaning 87 schools are now operating double shifts as children begin returning to school. There are children who lost both of their parents who will need long-term counseling, something being facilitated through the schools.
There are now 60,000 civilians still displaced flowing out of 19 shelters across the strip, the statement said, highlighting the urgent need for housing “to restore hope and dignity to the Palestinian people in Gaza”.
Mr Wibiniso called on the seven-year blockade in Gaza to be lifted to “urgently allow needed materials for reconstruction and recovery”.
Earlier this week, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an address to the UN General Assembly where he said Hamas shares a “similar creed” with Sunni militant group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
His speech followed an address by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas earlier in the week accusing Israel of carrying out a “war of Genocide” during the assault on Gaza.
Mr Wibiniso will present his report to the Human Rights Council in March next year.
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