Position Paper Issued by the Palestinian Network for Early Childhood on the Impact of Israeli Aggression on Children in Lebanon and Gaza

Oct 10, 2024

The Israeli aggression against both Lebanon and the Gaza Strip poses a serious threat to the lives and futures of children. With the targeting of civilian areas and vital infrastructure, children are subjected to severe violations of their rights to life, health, and education, exacerbating their physical and psychological suffering. The Palestinian Network for Early Childhood Development (PNECD) calls for urgent action to protect children and mitigate the catastrophic effects of this aggression.

Impact of Aggression on Children

• Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the death and injury of a large number of children in Lebanon and Gaza, leaving deep psychological scars manifested in anxiety, fear, and ongoing trauma, negatively affecting their social development.
• Continuous assaults over the past year in Gaza have led to the loss of many children’s families and homes, forcing them to be displaced multiple times, which has impacted their mental health.
• The destruction of schools and educational facilities due to bombardment has deprived thousands of children of their basic right to education, threatening their academic futures. In Gaza, the aggression has completely disrupted the educational process, while children in Lebanon suffer from educational interruptions due to displacement and the dangers posed by ongoing attacks, in addition to economic challenges and insecurity.
• The destruction of health facilities in Gaza, alongside the ongoing blockade, has led to the collapse of the healthcare system, depriving children of essential medical care and contributing to the spread of epidemics and famine, with catastrophic effects on their growth and future. In Lebanon, the economic crisis and wars have burdened families, worsening children’s health conditions, particularly with the rise of malnutrition and lack of medication.
• The targeting of essential infrastructure, such as electricity and water, has worsened living conditions in Gaza, exposing children to significant health risks. In Lebanon, the increasing displacement of thousands of families has created inhumane living conditions for children, enhancing feelings of loss and insecurity.

Call to Action

In light of these critical conditions, the Palestinian Network for Early Childhood Development (PNECD) for:

1. An urgent call to the international community to take immediate action to halt Israeli aggression against children and civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. We urge United Nations agencies to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian law, ensuring that these regions do not turn into graveyards for children.
2. Immediate support for relief efforts in Lebanon and Gaza, focusing on psychological support and the protection of children’s rights, especially their right to education, health, and general care. Urgent funding should be provided to rebuild damaged schools and hospitals, ensuring the necessary psychological and health care for children to enhance their psychological stability and prevent future crises.
3. Lifting the blockade on Gaza and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid, while ensuring support for refugee children in Lebanon to help them overcome the impacts of conflicts.

Protecting children in Lebanon and Gaza is a humanitarian and moral responsibility that cannot be delayed. The Palestinian Network for Early Childhood Development (PNECD) demands urgent international action to stop violations and ensure children's rights to a dignified life, education, and health. Our children are the future of the nation, and we must all strive to provide them with a safe and stable environment, empowering them to build a better life.

Photo by:  Mohammed Talatene/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images