May 6, 2011
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UN expert warns of impact of prolonged Israeli occupation on Palestinian children
After an eight-day visit to Cairo and Amman, Mr. Richard Falk, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, expressed his concern about the situation of Palestinian children, still subjected to attacks, detention and abuse.
He said that since 2000, due to the Israeli occupation, 1,335 Palestinian children have been killed. In fact, the Israeli military, forces people to leave their home. It arrests children who are often blindfolded, beaten, kicked, or subjected to other physical and psychological abuse. Many of these children are between 12 and 15 years old.
Furthermore, Mr. Falk pointed out that Palestinian children are deprived of their right to education because of their conditions.
The expert was prevented from visiting the Occupied Palestinian Territory by Israeli authorities, and he renounced to visit the Gaza Strip for security reason.
After the visit he concluded that the International Community has to urge Israel to act in order to protect Palestinian children, to respect the right to self-determination of the Palestinian population, and to respect its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.