Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS)

On the eve of the International Child Day; Palestinian children remain victims of ongoing Israeli violence

Due to the Israeli provocations and the repeated raids of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and daily attacks on the Palestinians, the Palestinian children became the prime victims of such violations since late October this year. According to the Ministry of Health, Israeli soldiers killed 18 children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip until 16 November   2015. Children represent thus far 20% of all martyrs. Moreover, the Defense for Children International (DCI) has documented 5 cases of killing of children by indiscriminate Israeli shooting since beginning 2015 till end August. These children included a child below 8 years old and another of 13 years old, while the other three aged 16 – 17 years.

Children languishing in Israeli prisons

Data from the Prisoners’ Affairs Commission showed that 3,755 children were detained during the period 2010-2014.  Defense for Children International stated that the number of children detained in the Israeli prisons from the beginning of January until the end of August 2015 reached 1,322 children where the mean of detention of children per month about 165 children, while the number of female children prisoners in Israeli jails reached 12. Additionally, during October, 2015 more than 600 children under the age of 16 years were arrested and imprisoned in Israeli jails, 60% of whom were arrested from their homes and there are 5 of them were arrested after they were shot.

Jerusalem children, the most affected by the Israeli violations

The number of houses demolished by Israeli authorities in East Jerusalem in the period from 2004 till mid-2014 reached 545 dwellings.  Subsequently, 2,115 persons, including 1,140 children lost their homes.

Children living in Area C are also victims of Israeli violations

In the period from 2006 to 2014 Israel demolished at least 817 residential units of Palestinians in the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem), displacing thus 3,956 Palestinians including 1,925 minors. Israeli authorities repetitively demolishes houses in the Jordan Valley and southern Hebron

as well as in the villages unrecognized by Israel, until 15 December 2014, it had demolished houses displacing at least 556 Palestinians including 286 minors in these areas, some of these houses were demolished several times. Additionally, Israeli authorities demolished houses of 53 Palestinian citizens including 21 minors in the Governorate of Nablus.

50,000 children, enrolled in 183 schools in area C, do not enjoy access to education because of insufficient schools and risk on the way to school.  According to Save the Children, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education data, more than 1,700 children in 37 localities in area C walked about 5 kilometers or more to school.

Around 2,500 children were forced to cross military checkpoints to reach school on a daily basis, while 10,000 children were learning in tents, caravans and tin shacks that provided no protection against heat or cold.

Gaza children endure the daily suffering

During the last war on the Gaza Strip (7/7/2014-26/8/2014), 540 children (340 males and 200 females) aging 10 days to 17 years martyred. Furthermore, 2,956 children (1,938 males and 1,018 females) were injured, 1,500 children were orphaned, and 54,000 children became homeless.