Canada, Stand up for Palestinian Children’s Rights
Life has become Unbearable for the Children of Gaza
The Canada Stand up for Palestinian Children’s Rights movement began in 2020 with a concern for the Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territories specifically in the West Bank who were being arrested, interrogated and jailed by the Israeli military.
More recently our attention has turned to the ways in which life has become unbearable for the children of Gaza. Children in the West Bank are under increasing attack from Jewish settlers. And 12 Druze children in Majdal Shams village in the Occupied Golan Heights were killed in an airstrike.
What are Children in Gaza doing?
- Moving from place to place, hopefully with their families as they seek a place of safety from Israeli bombing.
- Looking for food and water. In August Israel destroyed the water supplies in Rafah.
- Many are injured and receiving minimal medical treatment as hospitals have been destroyed. Antibiotics and pain-killers are not available. Israel allows no medication into into Gaza since April. International doctors are now no longer allowed to enter.
- Sleeping with their shoes on in case they get bombed in the night.
- polio
- Living in tents or minimal shelters with scorching heat. What it’s like to live in a tent
What can I do - one person?
United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine/Israel sees advocacy by individuals and communities of faith as a consequence of learning about the occupation and the lack of human rights for Palestinians.
We become advocates because the churches of Palestine have called on us to support them in their struggle for justice. Education leads to advocacy, which in turn leads to further education, and more advocacy. We speak for those who may not be able to speak for themselves in the search for justice, and amplify the voices of those who are calling for justice from Palestine and Israel.
- Share a story about children in Gaza or the West Bank with a couple of friends and ask if they would like to join you in trying to make change (it’s often easier with a small group)
- Investigate the Arms Embargo movement. https://armsembargonow.ca/ and write to your member of parliament asking them to sign on to the arms embargo, noting the harm that is happening to children.
- Educate yourself on what is happening to children via https://armsembargonow.ca/
- Support HaMoked financially. HaMoked is an Israeli group which provides legal aid to families in Gaza or the West Bank.
You are not alone.
Neither are anyone who cares.
Other Churches and people of faith are also taking action.
UNJPPI works with United Church of Canada General Council staff as well as with Quakers, Presbyterians, United Methodists in the U.S., the American United Church of Christ, Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem, Independent Jewish Voices and with non-faith based groups such as Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.
Together we are stronger.
Do you know?
what this means – a term medical personnel use? WCNSF. Wounded child no surviving family
that the Canadian government is supporting these actions by Israel that are harming the children of Gaza? Canada allows the export of military equipment to Israel. Under Canadian and international law this is illegal
ACT NOW – PROTECT PALESTINIAN CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
On July 6, 2020, Parliamentary Petition e-2667 was presented to Parliament. It called on the Government of Canada “to ensure the human rights of Palestinian children are protected by instructing a Special Envoy to promote, monitor and report on the human rights situation of Palestinian children living in the occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza”.
We are continuing the Canada, Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights Campaign because we strongly believe that the Government’s response does not relate in a direct, knowledgeable, concerned way to what we know to be documented: daily, extreme abuses of the Palestinian children’s human rights. Neither was the remedy the petition proposed of a Special Envoy adequately addressed.
Signing up for the campaign means you will receive an advocacy email once a month inviting you to take action on behalf of these children’s human rights. Initially the invitation will be to write a letter, based on suggested information/samples we will provide. The letter is to be sent to Hon. Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs (melanie.joly@international.gc.ca) and your own member of parliament.
Our monthly e-mail will also include resource information so that you can learn more about the treatment children receive.
As the campaign evolves we will provide suggestions as to other actions in which you may choose to take part.
Thank you, on behalf of a broad based cross-Canada coalition working on behalf of Palestinian children’s human rights.
P.S. The Government’s response to Petition e-2667 was tabled in the House of Commons on January 25, 2021. You can see it together with the full Petition e-2667 on the House of Commons website at
https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition
Campaign Letters/Emails/Resources
Related Organizations
HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual is an Israeli human rights organization with the main aim of assisting Palestinians of the occupied territories whose rights are violated due to Israel’s policies.
Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) promotes and protects the human rights of Palestinian children.
“We defend children’s rights by offering free legal aid, documenting violations of international law, and advocating for greater protections.”