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Over the last six years of the Intifada, more than 950 Palestinian children were killed and more than 400 kids are still imprisoned.
Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP) has stated that more than 950 Palestinian children were killed over last six years of Al-Aqsa Intifada.
“Over the last six years of the Intifada, more than 950 Palestinian children were killed, thousands were injured. Moreover, more than 7800 houses were demolished in the same period, forcing thousands of children to be homeless and displaced in temporary shelters for long periods of time,” GCMHP said in a statement on the occasion of World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on November 19.
GCMHP added that more than 400 Palestinian children are still imprisoned in Israeli jails, where Israeli Prisons Authorities practice violence, humiliation and violations of their basic rights by means of exposing them to cruel and ill-treatment, which negatively impacts their physical and psycho-social development and health. “The imprisoned children are subjected to deprivation of food, sleep, and family visitations as well as various forms of abuse,” GCMHP stated. The Palestinian children’s reality is more painful as they are exposed to murder, injuries and expulsion by the Israeli Occupation Forces(IOF).
GCMHP asserted that Palestinian children suffer from the Israeli violent practices and collective punishment against civilians such as the continuation of the use of sonic booms over Gaza Strip.
“Such booms leave serious and negative repercussions on the mental and physical health of children,” the Gaza Programme highlighted.
It pointed out that Palestinian children, among patients, could not receive the much- needed medical services abroad as the Israeli government imposes a strict siege over Gaza Strip. GCMHP expressed “deep concerns regarding what is happening on the ground in terms of massacres, crimes and violations committed by the IOF against innocent children and civilians in general. The Gaza Programme urgently appealed to the international community to rescue and protect Palestinian children and to break the imposed siege on Palestinian people.
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