"We must not lose focus of any aspect of the ongoing violence and occupation, particularly the human impact of land and water confiscation, punitive house demolition and forced evictions,” Kothari said.
The expert cited recent studies describing what appeared to be a systematic consolidation of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands as more and more Palestinian homes were demolished and Israeli settlers and settlements were created.
Kothari stressed that the demolition of homes, destroying natural resources and other collective punishments that continued unabated in occupied Palestinian areas should be considered war crimes.
The psychological effects of all this, particularly on women and children, warranted equal condemnation, he said.
Calling attention to the particular impact suffered by youngsters, he said a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) study had shown that during March and April of this year, 330,000 Palestinian children had been confined to their homes, some 500,000 had been unable to access health and social services, and nearly 600,000 children had been prevented from attending school.
"I am particularly concerned that no steps are being taken by the international community to address this situation which is seriously impacting the future generation of Palestinians living in the occupied territories,” he said. (PMC)
Published in conjunction with The Palestine Chronicle: http://www.palestinechronicle.com
The expert cited recent studies describing what appeared to be a systematic consolidation of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands as more and more Palestinian homes were demolished and Israeli settlers and settlements were created.
Kothari stressed that the demolition of homes, destroying natural resources and other collective punishments that continued unabated in occupied Palestinian areas should be considered war crimes.
The psychological effects of all this, particularly on women and children, warranted equal condemnation, he said.
Calling attention to the particular impact suffered by youngsters, he said a United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) study had shown that during March and April of this year, 330,000 Palestinian children had been confined to their homes, some 500,000 had been unable to access health and social services, and nearly 600,000 children had been prevented from attending school.
"I am particularly concerned that no steps are being taken by the international community to address this situation which is seriously impacting the future generation of Palestinians living in the occupied territories,” he said. (PMC)
Published in conjunction with The Palestine Chronicle: http://www.palestinechronicle.com