The situation described relates primarily to the escalation in violence and focuses on Palestinian children living inside OPT. There is evidence that both state and non-state actors have violated the rights of Palestinian children. Since September 2000, it is estimated that over 300 Palestinian children have been killed and over 7,000 injured as a result of Israeli military operations, extrajudicial killings or denial of access to medical treatment and humanitarian assistance. In one example, the Israeli military launched an F-16air strike into an apartment building in a residential area of Gaza City to hit the founder of the armed wing of Hamas. Nine children, including a 2-month-oldinfant, were killed in the attack. In some instances Israeli civilians have killed and violently injured Palestinian civilians, including children. Increasing poverty in OPT has also created new vulnerabilities for children, including an increase in malnutrition and anemia levels.
Israel’s Operation Defensive Shield (March 29, 2002, through April21, 2002) and other military actions have included destruction of property, detention, torture, ill treatment and firing at houses and people. They have also included restrictions of movement, including those of medical patients, humanitarian aid workers, human rights observers, journalists and others. These military operations were undertaken with the stated intention of protecting the security of Israeli citizens by destroying Palestinian terrorist infrastructure. However, according to the Geneva Conventions the operations should have ensured that children were protected.
Palestinian infrastructure, such as schools, medical offices and other civil institutions, has been damaged and destroyed by Israel’s military operations. Thousands of civilians have been left without electricity, water, food, medical supplies and other important goods and services, such as garbage and sewage disposal. One humanitarian agency estimates that 800,000 civilians living in urban areas have been deprived of basic services. For example, Human Rights Watch found evidence of Israel’s “indiscriminate and disproportionate use of force” and serious abuses against civilians, including children, in Jenin refugee camp, the site of intense fighting. The United Nation’s Secretary-General reported use of violence by both Israeli and Palestinian combatants that placed civilians and infrastructure in harm’s way during Israel’s military incursion into Jenin. In some instances Israeli forces have directly targeted children’s goods and services. In one case at a youth center in Al-Amari refugee camp, Israeli soldiers destroyed computers, musical instruments and furniture. International donors estimate damage in OPT at approximately US$370 million from the end of March through the end of May 2002.