Justice is being denied to 50 Palestinian children killed this year: NGO

Killing innocent Palestinian children, men and women and the Palestinian crisis do not seem to end, not even in the near future, for these poor people are widely subjected to brutality and mass killings in times like these.

Thinking of it, these poor souls seem fated to experience such horrid, heartbreaking situations at the hands of their soul-less enemies, or their rival nations.

The recent killing of 3 Palestinian in an air-strike is only an add-on to never-ending list.

The killings were added “in an ever-lengthening list of child fatalities at the hands of Israeli forces in unclear circumstances that may amount to an unlawful use of force”, said Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP).

An air strike around 6.30 pm on Sunday, the NGO said: “an Israeli air strike killed 14-year-old Khaled Bassam Mahmoud Abu Said, 13-year-old Abdul Hamid Mohammad Abdul Aziz Abu Daher and 15-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Sattari, east of Deir Al-Balah” in the Gaza Strrip adding that the Palestinian Red Crescent Society could not access the area until 9:30pm “due to continuous Israeli fire”.

Dr. Ahmad Duheir from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital “stated that all three children were deceased when they reached the hospital, with shrapnel wounds visible all over their bodies”.

“Based on available evidence, these children’s deaths appear to amount to unlawful killings,” said Ayed Abu Eqtaish, Accountability Programme director at DCIP.

“The UN Commission of Inquiry presents an opportunity to investigate violations that may amount to war crimes, but it must also provide accountability measures aimed at ending impunity and protecting civilians, including children, from attacks.”

Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights responding to the killing said: “Army or states can use lethal force only when there is an imminent threat to lives.”

He added that there was no reason to take entering a restricted area along the border, or even planting explosives there, should be taken as threatening and “doesn’t mean someone’s life is at imminent threat.”

DCIP stated that the three children are among six children killed by Israeli forces in the occupied Gaza Strip this month alone, “and at least 50 children killed by Israeli forces or settlers across the Occupied Palestinian Territory this year”.

“DCIP has documented a severe increase in the number of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces.”