ISLAMABAD:
It constitutes a war crime for Israeli forces to employ Palestinian children as human shields. Numerous documented instances exist of Israeli troops committing such heinous crimes in Palestine, and several human rights reports confirm this. Yet, the West rewards these war crimes and their perpetrators with more weapons, enabling them to harm countless more youngsters who, incidentally, play no part in this horrific struggle.
Israeli agricultural and labour sector further exploit Palestinian children. Young children, as early as 10 years old, are being exposed to pesticides carelessly while working on settlement farms. As a result, they suffer from vomiting and lightheadedness. The apartheid government prohibits them from receiving medical care. The Israeli occupation forces deny Palestinian farmers access to local markets, curbing their freedom of movement. The Palestinians aim goal is to be able to cultivate on their lands in order to build an economy that can support their offspring and fulfills their educational needs. But, Israeli settlers have blatantly denied them this opportunity. The West presents itself as the protector of children’s education, yet invaders in Palestine prevent pupils from reaching school, and assault them under the guise of “security.” The West remains unconcerned about all of this.
Attacks against Palestinians are carried out by Israeli settlers under the protection of the army and under the government’s direction. Yazan al-Rajbi, a Palestinian toddler, was hospitalised after being violently abused by extremist Israeli settlers. According to human rights organisations, some 40 children were reportedly killed and 750 others detained by Israeli occupation troops in 2022 alone. Despite this, the West continues to provide Israel with weapons of mass destruction. How shameful is this?
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2024.
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