Israel’s war on Gaza and the violation of children’s rights

The current intensification of Israel’s on-going war on Gaza has killed over 25,000 people in less than four months; half of them children. Nearly 60,000 people have been injured, almost all civilians, and many of them children (UNICEF). Many more thousands are missing beneath the rubble caused by the 25,000 tonnes of explosives that have been dropped on Gaza since October 7, equivalent to two nuclear bombs. The IPC has reported that the entire population of 2.2 million people is facing acute food. In this viewpoint we argue that it is not tenable as critical childhood studies scholars to remain silent in the face of these grave and systematic violations of children’s rights due to Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories and especially in Gaza. We argue for an end to the violations of children’s protection in international law, an immediate ceasefire, the restoration of schools and hospitals, and immediate provision of humanitarian aid including food, water and medicine. We urge scholars to use their academic platforms to vociferously oppose the ongoing murder, disablement and bereavement of children by Israel, not only in Gaza, but also in the occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the rest of Palestine-Israel.