The Israeli Aggression on Gaza Strip and Palestinian Children's Rights in Light of International Agreements رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The researcher addressed the rights of children in Gaza during the Israeli siege that began in 2006 and included several wars, up to the events of October 7, 2023, leading to the ceasefire on January 19, 2025. She focused on the challenges faced by children living in conditions that comply with international laws and agreements in Gaza, primarily the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949). She noted that the aggression resulted in the deaths of 17,881 children as of January 19, with numbers increasing due to the resumption of hostilities, reflecting gross violations of international law. The researcher concentrated on several key areas, including the definition of children's rights according to international treaties, the violations children faced during the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza, the international protection mechanisms established for them, the role of the United Nations in protecting children's rights, the role of international criminal law in holding war criminals accountable, and the significant role played by the Hind Rjeb Foundation in revealing and tracking war criminals while amplifying the mobilization against the Israeli occupation and its crimes. The researcher adopted a descriptive analytical legal approach in her research, reviewing relevant laws, describing the reality of children before and after October 7, and analyzing the resulting outcomes. In her findings, the researcher indicated that Palestine is a state under international protection and that children's rights laws must be applied to protect them from the Israeli occupation, which considers itself above the law and violates the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Fourth Geneva Convention. The researcher stated that the recent aggression is the most significant violation of international protection rules since 1967, and the continuation of these violations reflects the impunity of the perpetrators. The researcher recommended the need to enhance psychological and social support programs for affected children, increase international powers to prosecute war criminals, and utilize diplomatic pressure through boycotts and sanctions against Israel.