November, 2023 -

Persbericht: Barrières doorbreken: Broken Chalk’s oproep voor een onmiddellijk staakt-het-vuren en zelfbeschikking op de Internationale Dag van Solidariteit voor Palestijnen van dit jaar.

Op deze historische 29 november, 76 jaar na het VN-verdelingsplan, moet de wereld zich verenigen in solidariteit met het Palestijnse volk, en daarbij hun inherente recht op verzet tegen bezetting en zelfbeschikking erkennen. Op deze hartverscheurende Internationale Dag van Solidariteit voor de Palestijnen laat Broken Chalk niet alleen haar stem horen, maar pleit ze ook hartstochtelijk voor de vereniging van het Palestijnse volk onder één soeverein gebied en voor een harmonieuze oplossing van het al 75 jaar durende Israëlisch-palestijnse conflict. Op deze dag in 1947 nam de VN het verdelingsplan aan, waarin een visie werd geschetst voor een Joodse staat en een Palestijnse staat, met Jeruzalem als een international zone “corpus separatum.” Deze historische beslissing legde de basis voor de tweestatenoplossing gebaseerd op de principes van gelijke rechten en zelfbeschikking volgens artikel 1(2) van het VN-Handvest.^¹

Naar de aanleiding van recente gebeurtenissen herhaalt Broken Chalk de verklaring van VN-secretaris-generaal Antonio Guterres dat de aanvallen van Hamas op 7 oktober “niet in een vacuüm plaatsvonden” en verweven zijn met de 75-jarige strijd voor zelfbeschikking en verzet tegen de Israëlische bezetting.^² Sinds de recente aanval van Hamas op 7 oktober 2023 zijn er meer dan 12.000 burgers gedood in de Gazastrook, waarvan meer dan 5000 kinderen.^³ “Gaza is een kerkhof voor kinderen geworden”, zegt secretaris-generaal Guterres van de VN.^⁴

Broken Chalk benadrukt het belang van het stimuleren van een politieke tweepartijdige dialoog in het streven naar een blijvende oplossing voor het Israëlisch-Palestijnse conflict. Met erkenning van de urgentie van een tweestatenoplossing benadrukken we dat de weg naar echte zelfbeschikking voor Palestijnen moet beginnen bij de basis. Het is noodzakelijk dat de burgermaatschappij volledige autonomie krijgt om haar eigen staten vorm te geven, vrij van externe opleggingen. Terwijl we nadenken over de lange termijn aspiraties voor Palestijnse zelfbeschikking, wordt het duidelijk dat een cruciale stap voorwaarts de erkenning is dat Palestijnen de mogelijkheid hebben om onafhankelijk een model voor hun eigen staat op te bouwen, vrij van externe beperkingen opgelegd door Israël of de internationale gemeenschap.

Op deze dag, 29 november, is het noodzakelijk om opnieuw hartstochtelijk te wijzen op de onmiddellijke noodzaak om vast te houden aan het streven naar een tweestatenoplossing, die een omgeving bevordert waarin zowel Palestijnen als Israëliërs leven met onbeperkte autonomie en soevereiniteit. Een hereniging van Palestijnen die zowel op de Westelijke Jordaanoever als in Gaza wonen, moet verder gaan dan slechts een overweging; het eist om erkenning als een blijvende oplossing verankerd in Isreaëls beleidsverplichtingen en het collectieve geweten van de international gemeenschap. De bestaande verdeeldheid onder de Palestijnen in deze twee gebieden belemmert niet alleen de realisatie van Palestijnse zelfbeschikking, maar handhaaft ook de uitdagingen door onwettige nederzettingen op de Westelijke Jordaanoever en de schijnbare stagnatie van de Palestijnse Autoriteit (PA).

Met erkenning van het legitieme recht van Israël om zich tegen een terroristische organisatie die volledig is toegewijd aan het ontmantelen van de Joodse staat, benadrukt Broken Chalk het uiterste beland van onwrikbare naleving van het internationaal recht, met een specifieke aandacht voor het handhaven van proportionaliteit in reactie op veiligheidsdreigingen.^⁵ Bij het veroordelen van de universeel verwerpelijke aanval door Hamas, is het cruciaal om de ongelijkheid in de aanpak van Israël te benadrukken. De Palestijnen in Gaza worden collectief gestraft voor de acties van Hamas, wat vragen oproept over de proportionaliteit van de reactie van Israël. De methoden die door de Israëlische strijdkrachten worden gebruikt, lijken niet in overeenstemming te zijn met de doelstellingen, aangezien het alarmerende ratio van slachtoffers een schrijnend onevenwicht laat zien – voor elke Israëlische burger die verloren gaat, hebben 10 Palestijnen een verwoestende prijs betaald^⁶ Terwijl we door dit complexe landschap navigeren, pleit Broken Chalk voor een weloverwogen en proportionele aanpak die de principes van het internationaal recht respecteert en tegelijkertijd de rechten en levens van iedereen die door het conflict getroffen, beschermt.

De recente aanvallen hebben de vooruitzichten op een tweestatenoplossing een flinke klap toegebracht. Volgens berichten dreigen de Palestijnen in Gaza te worden verplaatst naar de Sinaï in Egypte, ondanks de lopende onderhandelingen.^⁷ Het is cruciaal om licht te werpen op de uitdagingen waar Gaza voor staat, waar beperkte controle over het grondgebied, de grenzen en de economie het vermogen om volledige autonomie uit te oefenen belemmeren. Broken Chalk veroordeelt de gerapporteerde verplaatsing van Palestijnen naar Zuid-Gaza en dringt er bij alle betrokken partijen op aan om prioriteit te geven aan het behoud van mensenrechten en internationaal recht.^⁸

In lijn met Broken Chalk’s missie om onderwijs universeel te maken, vinden we de catastrofale aanval op de al-Fakhoora school, die wordt bestuurd door de UNRWA (Verenigde Naties voor Hulpverlening aan Palestijnse Vluchtelingen in het Nabije Oosten), uiterst betreurenswaardig ^⁹ Targeting educational institutions undermines the fundamental right to education for all and hampers the prospects for a brighter future for Palestinians. As children are the future of our world, the international community must do whatever is necessary to prevent attacks on refugee camps and schools and to prevent the further loss of life of innocent men, women, and children. We call for a prospective collaboration with other NGOs to make a fundraising campaign as an emergency aid for those affected in Gaza.

Het aanvallen van onderwijsinstellingen ondermijnt het fundamentele recht op onderwijs voor iedereen en belemmert de vooruitzichten op een betere toekomst voor Palestijnen. Omdat kinderen de toekomst van onze wereld zijn, moet de internationale gemeenschap alles doen wat nodig is om aanvallen op vluchtelingenkampen en scholen te voorkomen en om verder verlies van onschuldige mannen, vrouwen, en kinderen te voorkomen. We roepen op tot een toekomstige samenwerking met andere NGO’s om een inzamelingsactie op te zetten als noodhulp voor de getroffenen in Gaza.

Broken Chalk roept de internationale gemeenschap op om zich opnieuw in te zetten voor een rechtvaardige en duurzame oplossing die de rechten en aspiraties van zowel Palestijnen als Israëliërs. We roepen op tot een onmiddellijk staakt-het-vuren en een herziening van het VN-verdelingsplan waarin beide partijen het recht op zelfbeschikking handhaven.

Broken Chalk maakt dit met gepast respect bekend aan het publiek

Getekend,

Broken Chalk

Translated by Fenna Eelkema from original post in English

Referenties

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

Comunicado de Prensa: Rompiendo Fronteras. Broken Chalk llama a un alto el fuego inmediato y a la proclamación de la autodeterminación en este Día Internacional de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Palestino.

Noviembre 29, 2023.

Mientras reflexionamos en este histórico 29 de noviembre, que marca 76 años desde el plan de partición de las Naciones Unidas, el mundo debe mostrarse unido en solidaridad con el pueblo palestino, reconociendo su derecho inherente a resistir ocupación y a conseguir autodeterminación. En este angustioso Día Internacional de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Palestino, Broken Chalk no sólo amplifica su voz pero también aboga pasionalmente por la unión del pueblo palestino bajo un territorio soberano y una resolución harmoniosa para el conflicto israelí-palestino que dura ya 75 años. En este día en 1947, la ONU adoptaba el plan de partición, estableciendo una visión para un estado judío y un estado palestino, con Jerusalén como la zona internacional “corpus separatum”. Esta decisión histórica sirvió para cimentar el trabajo preparatorio para una solución de dos estados basada en los principios de igualdad de derechos y autodeterminación bajo el artículo 1(2) de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas.^¹

A raíz de los últimos acontecimientos, Broken Chalk se hace eco de la aserción del Secretario-General de la ONU, Antonio Guterres, donde afirmó que los ataques de Hamas del 7 de octubre no ocurrieron en un vacío y están ligados al conflicto de 75 años de duración por la autodeterminación y la resistencia a la ocupación israelí.^² Desde el ataque de Hamas el 7 de octubre de 2023, se han producido 12.000 muertes de civiles en la Franja de Gaza, de los cuales más de 500 son niños.^³ “Gaza se ha convertido en un cementerio para niños”, denuncia Guterres, Secretario-General de la ONU.^⁴

Borken Chalk afirma la importancia de fomentar el diálogo político bipartisano en aras de conseguir una solución duradera para el conflicto israelí-palestino. Reconociendo la urgencia de una solución de los dos estados, enfatizamos que el camino hacia la auténtica autodeterminación del pueblo palestino debe comenzar a nivel de base. Es imperativo que la sociedad civil sea concedida autonomía total para dar forma y crear sus propios estados, libres de imposiciones externas. Contemplando las aspiraciones a largo plazo del pueblo palestino para la autodeterminación, se erige como paso fundamental el reconocimiento de que el pueblo palestino posee la agencia de construir un modelo para su propio estado de manera independiente, libre de restricciones externas impuestas por Israel o la comunidad internacional.

En este día, 29 de noviembre, es imperativo reafirmar de manera pasional la inmediata necesidad de defender el compromiso de una solución de dos estados, fomentando un ambiente donde tanto los palestinos como los isreaelíes prosperan con desenfrenada autonomía y soberanía. Una reunión de palestinos residentes en la Ribera Occidental y en Gaza debe trascender mera consideración; exige reconocimiento como una solución duradera incorporada en los compromisos políticos de Israel y en la conciencia colectiva de la comunidad internacional. La división existente entre palestinos en estos dos territorios no solo impide la realizacion de la autodeterminacion palestina pero también perpetúa los desafíos planteados por los asentamientos ilegales en la Ribera Occidental y el aparente estancamiento de la Autoridad Palestina (AP).

Al mismo tiempo que se reconoce el derecho legítimo de Israel de defenderse contra una organización terrorista totalmente comprometida al desmantelamiento del estado judío, Broken Chalk hace énfasis en la importancia de la inquebrantable adherencia al derecho internacional, específicamente en mantener la proporcionalidad de la respuesta a las amenazas de seguridad^⁵ En la condena del ataque universalmente deplorable de Hamas, es crucial destacar la disparidad en el enfoque de Israel. Palestinos en Gaza están experimentando castigo colectivo por las acciones de Hamas, lo que plantea preguntas sobre la proporcionalidad de la respuesta de Israel. Los métodos empleados por las Fuerzas de Defensa Israelíes parecen incongruentes con los objetivos permitidos, ya que la alarmante proporcion de damnificados revela un desequilibrio rígido – por cada civil israelí fallecido, 10 palestinos han pagado un precio desvatador.^⁶ Navegando este panorama complejo, Broken Chalk aboga por un enfoque medido y proporcionado que respeta los principios de derecho international salvaguardando los derechos y vidas de todos los afectados por el conflicto.

Los ataques recientes han propiciado un golpe significativo a los prospectos de una solución de dos estados, con informes sugiriendo el desplazamiento de palestinos en Gaza hacia Sinaí, Egipto, entre negociaciones en curso.^⁷ Es crucial arrojar luz en los desafíos que afronta Gaza, donde el control limitado sobre su territorio, fronteras y economía impide su habilidad para ejercitar autonomía completa. Broken Chalk condena la reubicación reportada del pueblo palestino al sur de Gaza y urge a todas las partes involucradas priorizar la preservación de derechos humanos y derecho internacional.^⁸

Usar instituciones educacionales como objetivos militares socava el derecho fundamental a la educación para todos y obstaculiza los prospectos para un futuro más brillante para Palestina. Dado que los niños son el futuro del mundo, la comunidad internacional debe hacer lo que sea necesario para prevenir ataques en campos de refugiados y escuelas y para prevenir la mayor pérdida de la vida de hombres, mujres y niños inocentes. Llamamos para una colaboración prospectiva con otras ONGs para organizar una campaña de recaudación para ayuda urgente para los afectados en Gaza.

Unidos en solidaridad con el pueblo palestino en este día, Broken Chalk hace un llamado a la comunidad internacional para renovar su compromiso para una resolución justa y duradera que respeto los derechos y aspiraciones tanto de los palestinos como de los israelíes. Llamamos a un alto el fuego inmediato y a la revision del plan de partición de la ONU donde los dos protagonistas defiendan el derecho a la autodeterminación.

Broken Chalk lo anuncia al público con el debido respeto.

Firmado,

Broken Chalk

Traducido por María Núñes Fontán de la publicacíon original en inglés.

Referencias

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

alto el fuego Ceasefire conflicto israelí-palestino derechos humanos Día Internacional de Solidaridad con el Pueblo Palestino Franja de Gaza Israel Palestine Palestinian children

Communiqué de presse : Briser les Conventions. L’appel de Broken Chalk pour un cessez-le-feu immédiat et pour le droit à l’autodétermination palestinienne en cette journée internationale de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien

Le 29 novembre 2023.

Alors que nous reflétons sur ce jour historique du 29 novembre, marquant les 76 ans depuis le plan de partage de l’ONU, le monde doit se tenir uni en solidarité avec le peuple palestinien, reconnaissant leur droit inhérent à résister à l’occupation et à atteindre l’autodétermination. En cette journée internationale déchirante de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien, Broken Chalk plaide pour l’union du peuple palestinien sous un territoire souverain unique et pour une résolution pacifique du conflit israélo-palestinien qui dure depuis déjà 75 ans. En ce jour en 1947, l’ONU a adopté le plan de partage, visant la création d’un état juif et d’un état palestinien, avec Jérusalem comme zone internationale et neutre, un “corpus separatum“. Cette Résolution a fondé les bases pour une solution à deux États, basée sur les principes d’égalité des droits et d’autodétermination en accord avec l’article 1(2) de la Charte des Nations Unies.^¹

À la suite des événements récents, Broken Chalk fait écho à l’affirmation du Secrétaire général de l’ONU, Antonio Guterres, selon laquelle les attaques du 7 octobre par le Hamas “ne se sont pas produites dans le vide” et sont liées à la lutte de 75 ans pour l’autodétermination et la résistance à l’occupation israélienne.^² Depuis l’attaque récente du Hamas du 7 octobre 2023, plus de 12 000 civils ont été tués dans la bande de Gaza, dont plus de 5 000 enfants^³ “Gaza est devenue un cimetière pour enfants”, déclare le Secrétaire général de l’ONU.^⁴

Broken Chalk affirme l’importance de favoriser un dialogue politique pour parvenir à une solution durable au conflit israélo-palestinien. Reconnaissant l’urgence d’une solution à deux États, nous soulignons que le chemin vers un véritable droit à l’autodétermination pour les palestiniens doit s’initier à la racine. Il est impératif que la société civile bénéficie d’une autonomie totale pour façonner et forger ses propres États, libres d’impositions externes. Alors que nous contemplons les aspirations à long terme pour l’autodétermination palestinienne, il devient clair qu’une étape essentielle de ce processus est de reconnaître que les Palestiniens ont la capacité de construire un modèle pour leur propre État indépendamment, libre des contraintes externes imposées par Israël ou la communauté internationale.

En ce jour du 29 novembre, il est indispensable de réaffirmer la nécessité immédiate du respect de l’engagement envers une solution à deux États, favorisant un environnement où Palestiniens et Israéliens prospèrent avec autonomie et souveraineté. Une réunion des palestiniens résidant à la fois en Cisjordanie et à Gaza doit transcender la simple considération ; elle exige une reconnaissance comme solution durable intégrée aux engagements politiques d’Israël et à la conscience collective de la communauté internationale. Cette division géographique parmi les palestiniens non seulement entrave la réalisation de l’autodétermination palestinienne mais perpétue également les défis posés par les implantations illégales en Cisjordanie et l’apparente stagnation de l’Autorité palestinienne (AP).

Tout en reconnaissant le droit légitime d’Israël à se défendre contre une organisation terroriste totalement engagée dans le démantèlement de l’État juif, Broken Chalk souligne l’importance primordiale du respect inébranlable du droit international, en mettant particulièrement l’accent sur le maintien de la proportionnalité en réponse aux menaces sécuritaires^⁵ En condamnant l’attaque universellement déplorable du Hamas, il est crucial de mettre en lumière la disparité dans l’approche israélienne. Les palestiniens à Gaza subissent une punition collective pour les actions du Hamas, soulevant des questions sur la légalité de la proportionnalité de la réponse israélienne. Les méthodes employées par les Forces de défense israéliennes semblent incongrues avec les objectifs visés, le ratio alarmant des pertes révèle un déséquilibre flagrant – pour chaque civil israélien perdu, 10 palestiniens ont perdu la vie.^⁶ Alors que nous naviguons dans ce paysage extrêmement complexe, Broken Chalk plaide en faveur d’une approche mesurée et proportionnée qui respecte les principes du droit international tout en respectant les droits et les vies de tous ceux affectés par le conflit.

Les récentes attaques ont porté un coup significatif aux perspectives d’une solution à deux États, avec des rapports suggérant que les Palestiniens de Gaza font face à un déplacement vers le Sinaï, en Égypte, au milieu de négociations en cours^⁷ Il est crucial de mettre en lumière les défis auxquels Gaza est confronté, où un contrôle limité sur son territoire, ses frontières et son économie entrave sa capacité à exercer une pleine autonomie. Broken Chalk condamne le déplacement signalé des Palestiniens vers le sud de Gaza et exige tous parties impliquées à prioriser la préservation des droits de l’homme et du droit international.^⁸

Conformément à la mission principale de Broken Chalk qui est de rendre l’éducation universelle, nous considérons l’attaque cataclysmique contre l’école al-Fakhoora, exploitée par l’UNRWA, comme extrêmement déplorable. ^⁹ Cibler les institutions éducatives enfreins le droit fondamental à l’éducation pour tous, et entrave les perspectives d’un avenir meilleur pour les Palestiniens. Comme les enfants sont l’avenir de notre monde, la communauté internationale doit faire tout ce qui est nécessaire pour empêcher les attaques contre les camps de réfugiés et les écoles et pour éviter de nouvelles pertes d’innocents. Nous appelons à une collaboration potentielle avec d’autres ONG pour lancer une campagne de collecte de fonds en tant qu’aide d’urgence pour ceux qui ont été touchés à Gaza.

Alors que nous sommes solidaires avec les Palestiniens en ce jour important, Broken Chalk en appelle à la communauté internationale pour renouveler son engagement envers une résolution juste et durable qui respecte les droits et les aspirations des Palestiniens et des Israéliens. Nous demandons un cessez-le-feu immédiat et une révision du plan de partage de l’ONU dans lequel les deux parties jouissent du droit à l’autodétermination.

Broken Chalk l’annonce au public avec tout le respect dû.

Signé,

Broken Chalk

Traduction de ce communiqué de presse en français par Laraib Ahmed, Gauthier Schoufs et Rein Daphné.

References

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

Ceasefire cessez-le-feu Communiqué de presse Israel israéliennes journée internationale déchirante de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien Nations Unies Palestine Palestinian children Palestiniens peuple palestinien

新闻稿：突破藩篱: Broken Chalk呼吁在今年巴勒斯坦国际团结日立即实现停火和自决权

2023年11月29日

至今年，这一富有历史意义的11月29日标志着距离联合国分治计划颁布已有76年，全世界应当与巴勒斯坦人民团结一致，认可他们抵抗占领并实现自决权的内在权利。在这一令人心碎的巴勒斯坦国际团结日，Broken Chalk不仅宣扬自己的意见，还热情地倡导将巴勒斯坦人民团结在一个主权领土下，以实现持续75年之久的以色列-巴勒斯坦冲突的和谐解决。在1947年的这一天，联合国通过了分治计划，描绘了一个犹太国和一个巴勒斯坦国的愿景，并以耶路撒冷作为国际区的“corpus separatum”（独立实体）。这一历史性决定奠定了一个基于联合国宪章第1条第2款平等权利和自决原则的两国方案。.^¹

对于最近发生的事件，Broken Chalk同意联合国秘书长安东尼奥·古特雷斯的说法，即哈马斯于10月7日的袭击“并非孤立事件”，而是与75年的自决斗争和对以色列占领的抵抗紧密相连。^² 自哈马斯于2023年10月7日的袭击以来，加沙地带已有超过12,000名平民丧生，其中有超过5,000名儿童。联合国秘书长古特雷斯表示，“加沙已经成为儿童的坟墓”。.^⁴

Broken Chalk强调了在追求以色列-巴勒斯坦冲突解决方案中培育两方政治对话的重要性。在认识到两国方案的紧迫性的前提下，我们强调巴勒斯坦人真正实现自决的道路必须从基层开始。公民社会必须获得完全自治的权利，以自主建立自己的国家，摆脱外部强加的束缚。在我们思考巴勒斯坦自决的长远愿景时，应当清晰地认识到，向前迈进的关键一步是承认巴勒斯坦人有权独立构建一个自主自决、不受以色列或国际社会外部限制的国家。

在11月29日这一天，迫切需要热烈地重申恪守两国方案的承诺，营造一个让巴勒斯坦人和以色列人都能够自主行使主权的环境。居住在约旦河西岸和加沙的巴勒斯坦人亟需团聚，并被认可为嵌入以色列政策承诺和国际社会集体良知的持久解决方案。在这两个地区的巴勒斯坦人之间的分裂不仅妨碍了巴勒斯坦自决的实现，还使得约旦河西岸非法定居点和巴勒斯坦权力机构（PA）明显停摆的现象持续下去。

在承认以色列有权捍卫自身免受致力于摧毁犹太国家的恐怖组织之侵扰的同时，Broken Chalk强调对国际法的坚定遵守的至关重要性，且特别关注在应对安全威胁时坚持比例原则的重要性.^⁵ 在承认以色列有权捍卫自身免受致力于摧毁犹太国家的恐怖组织之侵扰的同时，Broken Chalk强调对国际法的坚定遵守的至关重要性，且特别关注在应对安全威胁时坚持比例原则的重要性。在谴责哈马斯的无差别袭击时，也必须关注以色列的处理方式。加沙的巴勒斯坦人正在因哈马斯的行动而遭受集体惩罚，这引发了对以色列的反应是否遵守比例原则的质疑。以色列国防军队所采取的方法似乎与目标不符，因为令人震惊的伤亡比例存在明显的不平衡——每有一名以色列平民丧生，就有十名巴勒斯坦人付出沉重代价。^⁶ 在我们讨论这一复杂议题时，Broken Chalk倡导采取一种遵循平衡和相称的方法，尊重国际法的原则，同时保护受冲突影响的所有人的权利和生命。

T最近的袭击对两国方案的前景造成了重大打击，在正在进行的谈判中，有报道称加沙的巴勒斯坦人面临离开家园、被转移到埃及西奈半岛的境况。^⁷ 加沙区域所面临的挑战必须被特别关注，因其对领土、边界和经济的有限掌控妨碍了其行使完全自治的能力。Broken Chalk谴责巴勒斯坦人被转移到加沙南部这一情况，并敦促涉及的所有各方优先考虑对人权和国际法的保护。^⁸

基于Broken Chalk普及教育的使命，我们认为对联合国近东巴勒斯坦难民救济和工程处（UNRWA）运营的al-Fakhoora学校进行的灾难性袭击极为卑劣。 ^⁹ 对教育机构的打击损害了人们接受教育的基本权利，也影响了巴勒斯坦人通往更加光明未来的前景。儿童是我们世界的未来，国际社会必须尽一切必要的努力，防止对难民营和学校的袭击，防止无辜男女老少的进一步丧生。我们呼吁与其他非政府组织合作，为在加沙受影响的人提供紧急援助进行募捐活动。

在这个重要的日子里，我们与巴勒斯坦人民团结一致，Broken Chalk呼吁国际社会重新致力于一个公正和持久的解决方案，尊重巴勒斯坦人和以色列人的权利和愿望。我们呼吁立即停火，并修改联合国分治计划，让双方都能实现自决权。

Broken Chalk谨此向公众宣布。敬请知悉。

署名，

Broken Chalk

Translated by Gianna Chen from original post in English

References

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

Ceasefire Israel Palestine Palestinian children

Basın Yayınlaması: Engelleri aşmak. Broken Chalk’ın bu yılki Filistinliler için Uluslararası Dayanışma Günü’nde Derhal Ateşkes ve Kendi Kaderini Tayin Etme Çağrısı

29 Kasım, 2023

Birleşmiş Milletler’nin bölme planının 76. yıl dönümü olan 29 Kasım’ı düşünürken, dünya, Filistin halkıyla dayanışma içinde bir arada durmalı, onların işgale karşı direnme ve kendi kaderini tayin etme haklarını tanımalıdır. Broken Chalk, bu yürek parçalayıcı Uluslararası Filistinliler Dayanışma Günü’nde yalnızca sesini yükseltmekle kalmıyor, aynı zamanda Filistin halkının tek egemen bölge altında birleşmesini ve 75 yıldır devam eden İsrail-Filistin çatışmasına uyumlu bir çözüm getirilmesini tutkuyla savunuyor. 1947’nin bu gününde BM, Kudüs’ün uluslararası bölge “corpus separatum” olduğu bir Yahudi devleti ve bir Filistin devleti vizyonunu ortaya koyan bölme planını kabul etti. Bu tarihi karar, BM Sözleşmesi’nin 1 (2) Maddesindeki eşit haklar ve kendi kaderini tayin etme ilkelerine dayanan iki devletli bir çözümün temelini attı.^¹

Son olayların ardından Broken Chalk, BM Genel Sekreteri Antonio Guterres’in, Hamas’ın 7 Ekim saldırılarının “bir boşlukta meydana gelmediği” ve 75 yıllık kendi kaderini tayin mücadelesi ve direnişle iç içe olduğu yönündeki iddiasını yineliyor.^² İsrail işgali, Hamas’ın 7 Ekim 2023’teki son saldırısından bu yana Gazze Şeridi’nde 5000’den fazlası çocuk olmak üzere 12.000’den fazla sivil öldürüldü. ^³ BM Genel Sekreteri Guterres “Gazze çocuklar için mezarlığa dönüştü” diyor.^⁴

Broken Chalk, İsrail-Filistin çatışmasına kalıcı bir çözüm bulmak için iki partili siyasi diyaloğu teşvik etmenin önemini vurguluyor. İki devletli çözümün aciliyetinin bilincinde olarak, Filistinlilerin gerçek anlamda kendi kaderini tayin etme yolunun tabandan başlaması gerektiğini vurguluyoruz. Sivil topluma, dış dayatmalardan bağımsız olarak kendi devletlerini şekillendirmesi ve şekillendirmesi için tam özerklik tanınması zorunludur. Filistin’lilerin kendi kaderini tayin etmesi yönündeki uzun vadeli arzuları düşündüğümüzde, ileriye doğru atılacak çok önemli bir adımın, Filistin’lilerin, İsrail ya da uluslararası toplumun dayattığı dış kısıtlamalardan bağımsız olarak kendi devletleri için bağımsız bir model inşa etme yetkisine sahip olduklarının kabul edilmesi olduğu açıkça ortaya çıkıyor.

29 Kasım’da, hem Filistin’lilerin hem de İsrail’lilerin dizginsiz özerklik ve egemenlik ile gelişeceği bir ortamı teşvik ederek, iki devletli çözüme yönelik bir ortamın acilen desteklenmesi ihtiyacını tutkuyla yeniden öne sürmek zorunludur. Hem Batı Şeria’da hem de Gazze’de yaşayan Filistinli’lerin yeniden bir araya gelmesi, sadece değerlendirmenin ötesine geçmelidir; İsrail’in politika taahhütleri ve uluslararası toplumun kolektif vicdanı içinde yer alan kalıcı bir çözüm olarak tanınmayı talep ediyor. Bu iki bölgedeki Filistin’liler arasındaki mevcut bölünmüşlük, yalnızca Filistinli’lerin kendi kaderini tayin hakkının gerçekleşmesini engellemekle kalmıyor, aynı zamanda Batı Şeria’daki yasadışı yerleşimlerin ve Filistin Yönetimi’nin görünürdeki durgunluğunun yarattığı zorlukları da sürdürüyor

Broken Chalk, İsrail’in kendini tamamen Yahudi devletini ortadan kaldırmaya adamış bir terör örgütüne karşı meşru savunma hakkını kabul ederken, güvenlik tehditlerine yanıt olarak orantılılığın korunmasına özel olarak odaklanarak, uluslararası hukuka sarsılmaz bağlılığın son derece önemli olduğunu vurguluyor.^⁵ Hamas’ın evrensel olarak üzücü saldırısını kınarken, İsrail’in yaklaşımındaki eşitsizliği vurgulamak çok önemlidir. Gazze’deki Filistinli’lerin Hamas’ın eylemleri nedeniyle toplu olarak cezalandırılması, İsrail’in tepkisinin orantılılığı konusunda soru işaretlerine yol açıyor. Kayıpların endişe verici oranı keskin bir dengesizliği ortaya çıkardığından, İsrail Savunma Kuvvetleri tarafından kullanılan yöntemler hedef hedeflerle uyumsuz görünüyor; kaybedilen her İsrailli sivil için 10 Filistinli yıkıcı bir bedel ödüyor.^⁶ Bu karmaşık ortamda yol alırken Broken Chalk, uluslararası hukuk ilkelerine saygılı, aynı zamanda çatışmalardan etkilenen herkesin haklarını ve yaşamlarını koruyan, ölçülü ve orantılı bir yaklaşımı savunuyor.

Son saldırılar iki devletli çözüm umutlarına önemli bir darbe indirdi; raporlar, devam eden müzakereler sırasında Gazze’deki Filistinlilerin Mısır’ın Sina kentine göç etme tehlikesiyle karşı karşıya olduğunu öne sürüyor.^⁷ Toprakları, sınırları ve ekonomisi üzerindeki sınırlı kontrolün tam özerklik uygulama yeteneğini engellediği Gazze’nin karşılaştığı zorluklara ışık tutmak çok önemlidir. Broken Chalk, Filistinli’lerin Güney Gazze’ye kaydırıldığı yönündeki haberleri kınadı ve ilgili tüm tarafları insan haklarının ve uluslararası hukukun korunmasına öncelik vermeye çağırıyor.^⁸

Broken Chalk’ın eğitimi evrensel hale getirme misyonuyla uyumlu olarak, UNRWA tarafından işletilen El Fakhoora okuluna yapılan dehşet verici saldırıyı son derece içler acısı buluyoruz ^⁹ Eğitim kurumlarını hedef almak herkesin temel eğitim hakkını baltalıyor ve Filistinliler için daha parlak bir gelecek umudunu engelliyor. Çocuklar dünyamızın geleceği olduğundan, uluslararası toplum, mülteci kamplarına ve okullara yönelik saldırıları önlemek ve masum erkek, kadın ve çocukların daha fazla hayatını kaybetmesini önlemek için ne gerekiyorsa yapmalıdır. Gazze’de etkilenenlere acil yardım olarak bir bağış toplama kampanyası düzenlemek için diğer Sivil Toplum Kurumlar’ıyla ileriye yönelik bir işbirliği çağrısında bulunuyoruz.

Bu önemli günde Filistinlilerle dayanışma içinde bir arada dururken, Broken Chalk uluslararası topluma hem Filistinlilerin hem de İsraillilerin haklarına ve isteklerine saygı duyan adil ve kalıcı bir çözüme olan bağlılığını yenilemeye çağrıda bulunuyor. Derhal ateşkes yapılması ve her iki tarafın da kendi kaderini tayin hakkını savunduğu BM paylaşım planının revize edilmesi yönünde çağrıda bulunuyoruz.

Broken Chalk saygıyla topluma duyurur.

Saygıyla,

Broken Chalk

Derin Erk tarafından İngilizce orijinal yayından çevrilmiştir.

Referanslar

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

Ceasefire Filistin Filistinli çocuklar Israel İsrail Palestine Palestinian children

Filistin Halkıyla Uluslararası Dayanışma Günü

Benjamin Koponen, Caren Thomas & Zina Sabbagh yazdı

Filistin’deki Eğitim Ortamı

Gazze’deki son olaylardan sonra, bölgeden bir gazeteci olan Bisan Owda, çoğu röportajına hayatta kaldığını onaylarak başlıyor. Sözleri üzücü gerçeği bir kez daha ortaya koyuyor.“Gazzede güvenli bir yer yok.” – wizard_bisan1, Instagram, 2023

Eğitim kurumları üzerindeki yıkıcı etki bu açık gerçeğin altını çiziyor. Bu küçük coğrafi bölgede 200’den fazla okul acımasızca hasar görmüş, bombalanmış ya da tamamen yerle bir edildi.^ⁱ Şaşırtıcı bir şekilde bu, Gazze Şeridi’ndeki toplam okul sayısının neredeyse %40’ını oluşturuyor.

Uluslararası hukuk ve küresel toplum tarafından korunan bir kuruluş olarak kabul edilen UNRWA (Birleşmiş Milletler Filistinli Mültecilere Yardım Kuruluşu) tesisleri ve okulları artık güvenlik güvencesi taşımıyor.^ⁱⁱ Bu gerçek, 19 Kasım tarihinde Gazze’nin kuzeyinde yer alan ve UNRWA’ya ait olduğu bilinen Al Fakhoura okulunun bombalanmasıyla acı bir şekilde ortaya çıktı.^ⁱⁱⁱ O sırada aralarında öğretmenler, öğrenciler, aileler ve yaşlıların da bulunduğu 7.000’den fazla kişi okulun duvarları arasına sığınmıştı. Hayallerin ve umutların gerçeğe dönüşmesine yardımcı olan bir eğitim kurumu olan bu sığınak bir anda yok edildi.

**Fotoğraf** **Luke White** , **Unsplash** **tarafından**

Filistin ortaöğretimi üç temel sektörden oluşuyor: Özel okullar, devlet okulları ve özellikle Filistinli mülteciler için kurulan UNRWA okulları.^{^iv} Bu kurumlar, Filistin Hükümeti tarafından belirlenen standart Filistin Müfredatına bağlı. Dikkat edilmesi gereken ilginç bir husus, İsrail Hükümeti Filistin Müfredatı üzerinde sürekli inceleme ve sansür uyguluyor. ^{^v} TBu kurumlar, Filistin Hükümeti tarafından belirlenen standart Filistin Müfredatına bağlı. Dikkat edilmesi gereken ilginç bir husus, İsrail Hükümeti Filistin Müfredatı üzerinde sürekli inceleme ve sansür uyguluyor.^{^vi}

Ayrıca, Filistin’in sınırlarını çizen bir haritanın tasviri de sürekli olarak yasaklanmaktadır. Bu durum Filistin müfredatını son derece esnek olmaya zorluyor çünkü müfredatta sürekli değişiklikler yapılıyor.^{^vii} Dahası, hem öğrenciler hem de öğretmenler okullara erişimde çok sayıda engelle karşılaşıyor. Batı Şeria genelinde kontrol noktaları önemli bir engel teşkil etmekte ve bireylerin eğitim kurumlarına geçişini engelliyor. Benzer şekilde Gazze’de de sık sık meydana gelen bombalamalar, öğrencilerin ve eğitimcilerin eğitim arayışlarında karşılaştıkları zorlukları daha da arttırıyor ^{^viii}.

Ortaöğretim sektörünün karşı karşıya olduğu bir diğer engel de finansman. Eğitimi Saldırıdan Korumak için Küresel Koalisyon (GCPEA) tarafından hazırlanan bir raporda, Mayıs 2021’de meydana gelen saldırıda okul tesislerine verilen zararın onarılması için yaklaşık 3,55 milyon ABD dolarına ihtiyaç duyulacağı belirtildi.^{^ix} Bu nedenle, eğitim sektörü büyük ölçüde başta BM olmak üzere uluslararası toplumdan gelen bağış ve yardımlara bağlı.^{^x} Ancak 2016 yılından bu yana UNWRA okullarına yapılan yardım, siyasi arenadaki değişiklikler nedeniyle radikal bir şekilde azalıyor.^{^xi}

Gazze’deki toplam 561 okulun 264’ü UNRWA tesisinden oluşuyor ve bunun temel sebebi ise yıkılan komşu köylerden gelen yüksek mülteci nüfusu.^{^xii} Bu nedenle, bu okulların birçoğu düzgün bir şekilde kullanılacak altyapı, sınıf ve malzemeden yoksun; buna rağmen yine de geliştiriliyor ve en iyi kapasitelerinde kullanılmak için mümkün oldukça çok malzeme kullanılıyor. Öğrenciler tüm bu zorlukları aşsalar bile, Gazze dışında yüksek öğrenim görmek istediklerinde İsrail’den izin alamıyorlar ve bu da onları Gazze’ye hapsediyor.

Eğitimsel olarak, İsrail, bu zorlukları daha da kötüleştiren çok sayıda farklı taktikler uyguluyor. Gazze’ye yönelik yıkım ve savaş sona erse bile, öğrencilerin, öğretmenlerin ve diğer bireylerin yaşadığı travma ve TSSB’nin işlenmesi, iyileşmesi ve tamamen iyileşmesi nesiller alacaktır.

Fotoğraf Austin Crick , Unsplash tarafında

Filistinli Çocukların Ruh Sağlığı

Ruh sağlığı, insanların kendilerini ve çevrelerindeki dünyayı anladıkları hassas bir prizmadır. Bu prizma insanların stresi yönetme, yeteneklerini besleme, etkili bir şekilde öğrenme/çalışma ve toplumlarını destekleme becerileriyle sembolize edilir.^{^xiii} Dayanıklılık stratejileri, travma ile yaşamanın bir başa çıkma mekanizması olmaktan ziyade insanların engelleri aşmasına ve birey olarak gelişmesine olanak tanır. Ancak, çocukluk dönemindeki travmatik olaylar – savaş gibi – sağlıklı başa çıkma mekanizmalarının etkinliğini aşan bir stres seviyesine yol açabilir. Gazze/Batı Şeria’daki süregelen bombalamalar, yerinden edilmeler ve işgal, yerel Filistinli çocuklar arasında kaygı, depresyon ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğunu arttırdı.

IDF(İsrail Savunma Kuvvetleri) 7 Ekim’den bu yana yaklaşık 11.320 Filistinli sivili öldürdü.^{^xiv} Bunların arasında 4.650 çocuk ve 3.145 kadın da bulunuyordu. 29.200 kişi yaralanmış, 3.600 kişiden ise haber alınamadı (bunların 1.755’i çocuktu).^{^xv} On iki yıl önce Dimitry “çatışmaya bağlı travmatik deneyimlerin zihinsel, davranışsal ve duygusal sorunların yaygınlığı ile pozitif korelasyon gösterdiğini”tespit etti.^{^xvi}

2011 yılına kadar, çocukların yaklaşık %23 ila %70’inin TSSB’den muzdarip olduğu bildiriliyor.^{^xvii} Travma sonrası stres bozukluğu (TSSB) aşırı gergin deneyimlere verilen uzun süreli zihinsel/fizyolojik bir tepkidir. Filistinli çocuklar için terör saldırılarına maruz kalmak, evlerinden edilmek, şiddetli istismar ve günlük aşağılanmaya tanık olmak onları hayatta kalma moduna zorluyor.^{^xviii}

Günlük rutini sürdürmek, çocukların ruh sağlığını sağlamanın ayrılmaz bir parçasıdır. Ancak okulların, evlerin yıkılması ve düzenli olarak yer değiştirmeler, öngörülemeyen bir ortam yaratıyor. İsrail işgalinin süregelen doğasının, sivillerin (özellikle çocukların) iyileşme fırsatını ortadan kaldırdığı belirtildi.^{^xix} Sonuç olarak, sürekli bir travmatik stres durumunda oluyorlar. 2022 yılındaki verilere göre, çocukların %90’ı ebeveynlerinden ayrılma kaygısına sahip, %50’den fazlası intihar etmeyi düşünmekte ve %59’u tepkisel bağlanma bozukluğuna sahipti.^{^xx} Guardian ayrıca çocukların uyku güçlüğü de yaşadığını bildirmiştir.^{^xxi} Bununla birlikte, çocuklar bu travma sonrası stres belirtilerine (TSSB) farklı şekillerde yanıt vermek için stratejiler geliştirmiştir. Bunlar arasında travmatik olaylara aktif olarak maruz kalma ve siyasi şiddete karşı travma tepkisi olarak siyasi direniş yer almaktadır.

Filistinli gençlerin -genellikle genç erkek ve erkek çocukların- dayak yiyen/hapse atılan akranlarına saygı gösterdikleri biliniyor.^{^xxii} Bu şekilde zulüm korkusunu cesarete dönüştürüyorlar. Buna karşılık, Filistinli genç kadın ve kızların TSSB’yi anksiyete ve depresyon yoluyla ifade etme olasılıkları daha yüksek oluyor.^{^xxiii} Bu özellikler, Orta Doğu’da kız/erkek çocuklara yönelik cinsiyetçi beklentilerle örtüşüyor. Şaşırtıcı olmayan bir şekilde, bu davranışlarda bulunan genç erkekler ve oğlanlar, kadın meslektaşlarına göre daha fazla TSSB sergiliyor.^{^xxiv} Travmaya aktif olarak maruz kalmak, bir travma tepkisi olarak dirençle derinden bağlantılıdır.

Wispelwey & Jamei, siyasi aktivizmin, özellikle de Büyük Dönüş Yürüyüşü’nün (GMR), “bir eylemlilik ve umut duygusu yoluyla toplum ruh sağlığı üzerinde olumlu bir etki” sağlayabileceğini gösteriyor.^{^xxv} Mart 2018’de başlatılan bir dizi gösteri olan GMR, Filistinlilerin anavatanlarına geri dönme hakkını (194 sayılı BM Kararı ile güvence altına alınmıştır) sembolize etmeyi amaçlıyordu. GMR dans, yemek ve sloganlarla dolu kültürel/kutlama atmosferini benimsedi. Protestocular, İsrail Savunma Kuvvetleri’nin militarist tepkisiyle(göz yaşartıcı gaz ve kalabalığa keskin nişancı ateşi), karşılaştılar.^{^xxvi}

Filistin’deki çocukların ruh sağlığının vahim durumu, İsrail işgali gerçeğiyle iç içe geçmiştir. Anksiyete, savaşa verilen mantıksız bir tepki değildir. Depresyon, fırsat eksikliğine verilen irrasyonel bir tepki değildir. Bunlar siyasi liderler tarafından alınan kararların psikolojik belirtileridir. Save The Children tarafından yayınlanan bir mektupta 6 Filistinli çocuk -Salma, Niveen, Zain, Samer, Khaled ve Amal- dileklerini şöyle özetlemişlerdir; “İlk dileğimiz savaşın sona ermesi… Yıkılan tüm binaların temizlenmesini ve yerlerine daha iyi ve daha güzel bir şeyin gelmesini umuyoruz”.^{^xxvii} Tıbbi bakım, altyapı ve toplum desteği iyileşmenin ayrılmaz bir parçası olacaktır. Ateşkes bu iyileşme sürecinin ilk adımıdır.

Filistin’de Öğrenciler İçin Kaynak Yoksunluğu

Birleşmiş Milletler, 2023 yılının başında Filistinli çocukları ve eğitimlerini etkileyen en az 423 olay kaydetti. Bu olaylara İsrail güçlerinin okullara ateş açması, çocukların operasyonlar düzenlemesi ve okulları yıkması da dâhildir.^xxviii Gazze Eğitim Bakanlığı ^xxix 2023-2024 eğitim-öğretim yılını askıya aldı. Gazze’nin ayrım gözetmeksizin bombalanması nedeniyle, Gazze Şeridi’ndeki okullar Filistinliler için “güvenli alanlar” olarak kullanılıyor. Ancak okullar bile İsrail bombardımanının hedefi olmuş durumda.

Halihazırda, Birleşmiş Milletler Filistinli Mültecilere Yardım Kuruluşu UNRWA tarafından işletilen okullar İsrail saldırılarının hedefi oldu. ^xxx Bu okulların silahlı çatışma sırasında güvenli bölgeler olarak kabul edilmesi gerekiyor. Ancak Gazze’de tanık olduğumuz şey, başta çocuklar olmak üzere masum sivillerin kasıtlı olarak hedef alınmasıdır. Okullara sığınanların bu şekilde hedef alınması, sonuçta çok sayıda sivilin ölümüne ve yaralanmasına yol açıyor. Silahlı bir çatışma okulları ve diğer eğitim kurumlarını hedef aldığında ortaya çıkan kaynak kaybı nedeniyle eğitimin aksamasına sebep oluyor.

Fotoğraf Gayatri Malhotra, Unsplash tarafından

Rafto Ödülü 2023’ün sahibi olan Uluslararası Çocukları Savunma Örgütü – Filistin, ‘Savaşta Çocuk, 2022’ raporunda ^xxxi Filistinli çocukların uluslararası toplumdan maddi yardım istemediklerini dile getirdiklerini belirtmişti. Bunun yerine çocuklar, kontrol noktalarında yapılan aramalardan ve okullarda gerçekleşen saldırılardan korunmak istiyor. Ayrıca, Filistin’den çocuk insan hakları savunucularına uluslararası insan hakları organlarıyla toplantılara katılma şansı verildi, ancak çocukların ihtiyaçlarının ele alınmasına önem verilmedi. Sahadaki gerçeklik aynı kalmaya devam ediyor.

Gazze Şeridi, altyapı ve diğer eğitim kaynaklarına büyük zarar veren silahlı çatışmalara sahne olmaya devam ediyor. Eğitim için okulda olması gereken bir çocuk, bombardımanlardan korunmak için ailesiyle birlikte okula gidiyor. Hasar gören okul sayısının en az 300 olduğu ve 183 öğretmenin öldürüldüğü bildiriliyor.^xxxii Ayrıca İsrail’in su, gıda, tıbbi malzeme, elektrik ve yakıt ablukası da bu çocukların kaynaklara erişiminde ciddi riskler yaratıyor.

Çatışma nedeniyle çocuğun eğitiminde meydana gelen bir boşluk, psikososyal desteğin yokluğu ile birleştiğinde, birçok çocuğun umutsuzca geride kalmasına neden olabilir. Gazze’deki durum, halkın okullarını, sağlık hizmetlerini ve diğer eğitim kaynaklarını yeniden inşa etmesini gerektiriyor. İnsanların geçici öğrenme alanlarını barındırmanın yollarını bulması, eğitim sistemlerini yeniden inşa etmek için uluslararası toplumdan destek alması ve en önemlisi, bu genç zihinlerin parçalanmış ortamını anlayabilecek donanıma sahip öğretim personeli bulması gerekiyor. Bu yürek burkan ortamda eğitim son derece önemli, zira Filistinli çocukların karşılaştığı bazı zorlukların üstesinden gelmek için bir omurga ve potansiyel özgürlük sunmaktadır.

Sayısız uluslararası yasa ve mekanizma mevcut olsa da, bunların uygulanması, uluslararası müdahalenin çok az olması nedeniyle etkisiz bir süreç oluştu. İsrail’in Filistin’e yönelik saldırılarının uluslararası insancıl hukukla alay etmek olduğu tartışmasız bir şekilde ortadadır.

Okurlarımızı bu sorularla baş başa bırakıyoruz.

İnsan Hakları Evrensel Beyannamesi’nde yer alan temel bir insan hakkı olan eğitim, Filistinli çocuklar için ne zaman uzak bir lüks olmaktan çıkacak?

Filistinli bir çocuk ne zaman “savaş çocuğu” olmayı bırakır ve pozitif öğrenme, büyüme ve mutluluk dolu bir yaşamı kucaklar?

Referanslar

i UNESCO. (2023). Gaza: UNESCO calls for an immediate halt to strikes against schools. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gaza-unesco-calls-immediate-halt-strikes-against-schools

ii UNRWA. (2023). THE GAZA STRIP: UNRWA SCHOOLS SHELTERING DISPLACED PEOPLE CONSTANTLY. UNRWA. https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/gaza-strip-unrwa-schools-sheltering-displaced-people-constantly-hit

iii Al Jazeera. (2023). Many killed in Israeli attacks on two schools in northern Gaza. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-forces-strike-al-fakhoora-school-in-northern-gaza

iv Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Schools Placement Around Palestine. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Basic_Schools_ar.html

v Al Jazeera Net. (2017). Accusing the Palestinian curriculum of incitement against Israel. Al Jazeera Net. https://www.aljazeera.net/news/presstour

vi Al Jazeera Net. (2004). Israeli Efforts to Change the Palestinian Educational Curriculum جهود إسرائيلية محمومة لتغيير مناهج التعليم الفلسطينية. Al Jazeera Net. https://www.aljazeera.net/news

vii Palestinian Ministry of Education. (2023). Sectoral strategy for education. https://www.moe.pna.ps/category/content/1036

viii Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. (n.d.). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. State of Palestine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. http://www.mofa.pna.ps

ix Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack. (2022). Measuring the Impact of Attacks on Education in Palestine. https://protectingeducation.org/wp- content/uploads/impact_attackeducation_palestine_2022_en.pdf

x Palestinian Ministry of Education. (2023). Sectoral strategy for education. https://www.moe.pna.ps/category/content/1036

xi BBC News. (2018, January 17). UN alarmed as US cuts aid to Palestinian refugee agency. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42717333

xii Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Schools Placement Around Palestine. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Basic_Schools_ar.html

xiii World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

xiv Anadolu staff. (2023, November). Gaza death toll soars to 11,320 amid relentless Israeli attacks, including 4,650 children. aa.com. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-soars-to-11-320-amid-relentless-israeli-attacks-including-4-650-children/3053701#

xv Anadolu staff. (2023, November). Gaza death toll soars to 11,320 amid relentless Israeli attacks, including 4,650 children. aa.com. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-soars-to-11-320-amid-relentless-israeli-attacks-including-4-650-children/3053701#

xvi Dimitry, L. D. (2011). A systematic review on the mental health of children and adolescents in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01246.x

xvii Dimitry, L. D. (2011). A systematic review on the mental health of children and adolescents in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01246.x

xviii Dimitry, L. D. (2011). A systematic review on the mental health of children and adolescents in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01246.x

xix Agbaria, N., Petzold, S., Deckert, A., Henschke, N., Veronese, G., Dambach, P., Jaenisch, T., Horstick, O., & Winkler, V. (2020). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among Palestinian children and adolescents exposed to political violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256426

xx Sherwood, H. (2023, October 22). Children in Gaza ‘developing severe trauma’ after 16 days of bombing. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/22/children-in-gaza-developing-severe-trauma-after-16-days-of-bombing

xxi Save the Children International. (2022, June 15). After 15 years of blockade, four out of five children in Gaza say they are living with depression, grief and fear. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/after-15-years-blockade-four-out-five-children-gaza-say-they-are-living-depression-grief-and

xxii Agbaria, N., Petzold, S., Deckert, A., Henschke, N., Veronese, G., Dambach, P., Jaenisch, T., Horstick, O., & Winkler, V. (2020). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among Palestinian children and adolescents exposed to political violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256426

xxiii Wispelwey, B. W., & James, Y. A. J. (2020). The Great March of Return. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(1), 179–186. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26923484

xxiv Agbaria, N., Petzold, S., Deckert, A., Henschke, N., Veronese, G., Dambach, P., Jaenisch, T., Horstick, O., & Winkler, V. (2020). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among Palestinian children and adolescents exposed to political violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256426

xxv Wispelwey, B. W., & James, Y. A. J. (2020). The Great March of Return. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(1), 179–186. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26923484

xxvi Save The Children. (2022). Trapped: The Impact of 15 years of blockade on the mental health of Gaza’s children. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/gaza_blockade_mental_health_palestinian_children_2022.pdf/

xxvii Save The Children. (2022). Trapped: The Impact of 15 years of blockade on the mental health of Gaza’s children. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/gaza_blockade_mental_health_palestinian_children_2022.pdf/

xxviii United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Back to school: 1.3 million Palestinian children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are returning to school during a tumultuous year.” ochaopt.org August 21, 2023. http://www.ochaopt.org/content/back-school-13-million-palestinian-children-west-bank-and-gaza-strip-are-returning-school-during-tumultuous

xxix Middle East Monitor. “Amidst the bombing, school year suspended in Gaza.” middleeastmonitor.com November 6, 2023. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231106-amidst-the-bombing-school-year-suspended-in-gaza/

xxx Mhawish, Mohammed R. “‘Why bomb schools?’ Gaza families have no safe space amid Israeli attacks”. aljazeera.com October 10, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/10/why-bomb-schools-gaza-families-have-no-safe-space-amid-israeli-attacks

xxxi Defence for Children International. “Children affected by armed Conflict.” defenceforchildren.org 2022. https://defenceforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Children-and-Armed-Conflict-Report.pdf

xxxii Becker, Jo. “Israel/Gaza Hostilities Take Horrific Toll on Children.” Human Rights Watch. November 22, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/22/israel/gaza-hostilities-take-horrific-toll-children

crimes against humanity Gaza Gaza Strip genocide Israel Israel and Occcupied Palestinian territories Israel-Hamas war Palestine UDHR United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Universal Declaration of Human Rights war crimes West Bank

Journée internationale de solidarité avec le peuple palestinien ~ 29 novembre 2023

Protesters march with free Palestine signs

Ecrit par Benjamin Koponen, Caren Thomas & Zina Sabbagh et traduit en français par Laraib Ahmed

Le Paysage Éducatif en Palestine

Au milieu des récentes escalades à Gaza, Bisan Owda, une journaliste de la région, commence la plupart de ses interviews en reconnaissant sa survie. Ses mots résonnent avec la réalité saisissante.

“Il n’y a pas d’endroit sûr à Gaza.” – wizard_bisan1, Instagram, 2023.

L’impact dévastateur sur les institutions éducatives souligne cette vérité criante. Plus de 200 écoles ont été cruellement endommagées, bombardées, ou entièrement rasées dans cette petite région géographique. De manière choquante, cela représente près de 40 % du nombre total d’écoles dans la bande de Gaza.

Les installations et écoles de l’UNRWA (Office de secours et de travaux des Nations unies pour les réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient), considérées comme des établissements protégés par le droit international et la communauté mondiale, ne bénéficient plus de la garantie de sécurité. La réalité est devenue douloureusement évidente avec le bombardement de l’école Al Fakhoura de l’UNRWA, un établissement largement reconnu dans le nord de Gaza, le 19 novembre. À ce moment-là, plus de 7 000 personnes, dont des enseignants, des étudiants, des familles et des personnes âgées, cherchaient refuge derrière ses murs. En un instant, ce sanctuaire, un institut éducatif qui a aidé à réaliser des rêves et des espoirs, a été détruit.

Approfondir les défis des Palestiniens dans le domaine éducatif offre un tableau plus clair de leurs luttes. L’éducation secondaire palestinienne comprend trois secteurs principaux : les écoles privées, les écoles publiques et les écoles de l’UNRWA spécialement établies pour les réfugiés palestiniens. Ces institutions adhèrent au programme d’études palestinien normalisé établi par le gouvernement palestinien. Un aspect intrigant à noter est le contrôle et la censure continus imposés par le gouvernement israélien sur le programme d’études palestinien normalisé. Les autorités israéliennes restreignent les informations détaillées sur le patrimoine, la culture et l’histoire palestiniens.

De plus, la simple représentation d’une carte délimitant les frontières de la Palestine est régulièrement interdite. Cela force le programme d’études palestinien à être extrêmement flexible car des changements continus s’y opèrent. De plus, les élèves et les enseignants font face à de nombreux obstacles pour accéder aux écoles. Dans toute la Cisjordanie, les checkpoints constituent un obstacle majeur, entravant le déplacement des individus vers les établissements éducatifs. De même, à Gaza, les bombardements fréquents augmentent davantage les défis auxquels font face les étudiants et les éducateurs dans leur quête d’éducation.

Un autre obstacle auquel le secteur de l’éducation secondaire est confronté est le financement. Un rapport de la Coalition mondiale pour la protection de l’éducation contre les attaques (GCPEA) a mentionné qu’environ 3,55 millions de dollars seraient nécessaires pour réparer les dommages causés aux installations scolaires lors de l’agression de mai 2021. En raison de l’occupation militaire israélienne, l’économie de l’Autorité palestinienne est gravement entravée. Ainsi, le secteur éducatif dépend fortement des dons et de l’aide de la communauté internationale, principalement de l’ONU. Cependant, depuis 2016, l’aide aux écoles de l’UNRWA diminue radicalement en raison des changements dans le domaine politique.

Les écoles de Gaza se composent de 284 établissements de l’UNRWA sur 561 écoles en raison du nombre élevé de réfugiés des villages voisins détruits. Par conséquent, bon nombre de ces écoles manquent d’infrastructures, de salles de classe et de matériel pour fonctionner correctement ; cependant, elles prospèrent toujours et utilisent autant de matériel que possible pour fonctionner au mieux de leurs capacités. Même lorsque les étudiants surmontent tous ces défis difficiles, s’ils veulent poursuivre des études supérieures en dehors de Gaza, ils se voient refuser des permis par Israël, les confinant ainsi à Gaza. En ce qui concerne l’éducation, de nombreuses tactiques employées par l’occupation israélienne exacerbent ces difficultés. Même s’il y avait une fin à la destruction et à la guerre contre Gaza, le traumatisme et le SSPT (syndrome de stress post-traumatique) auxquels sont confrontés les étudiants, les enseignants et d’autres individus prendront des générations pour être traités, guéris et totalement récupérés.

Santé mentale des enfants palestiniens

La santé mentale est un prisme délicat à travers lequel les êtres humains se comprennent eux-mêmes et le monde qui les entoure. Ce prisme est symbolisé par la capacité des gens à gérer le stress, à développer leurs talents, à apprendre/travailler efficacement et à soutenir leur communauté. Ces stratégies de résilience ne sont pas des mécanismes de survie face au traumatisme mais permettent aux individus de surmonter les revers et de grandir en tant qu’individus. Cependant, les incidents traumatiques de l’enfance, tels que la guerre, peuvent induire des niveaux de stress qui dépassent l’efficacité des mécanismes de survie sains. Les bombardements continus, le déplacement et l’occupation de Gaza/Cisjordanie ont accru l’anxiété, la dépression et le SSPT parmi les enfants palestiniens locaux.

Depuis le 7 octobre, les forces de défense israéliennes ont tué environ 11 320 civils palestiniens. Parmi eux, 4 650 enfants et 3 145 femmes ont été tués, laissant 29 200 blessés et 3 600 non comptabilisés (dont 1 755 enfants). Il y a douze ans, Dimitry a trouvé que “les expériences traumatiques liées au conflit sont positivement corrélées à la prévalence des problèmes mentaux, comportementaux et émotionnels”.

Dès 2011, environ 23 % à 70 % des enfants auraient souffert de SSPT. Le SSPT est une réponse mentale/physiologique prolongée à des expériences extrêmement stressantes. Pour les enfants palestiniens, l’exposition aux attaques terroristes, le déplacement de leur domicile, les abus violents et le fait de témoigner quotidiennement de l’humiliation les poussent en mode survie.

Maintenir une routine quotidienne est essentiel pour assurer la santé mentale des enfants. Cependant, la destruction des écoles, des maisons et les déplacements réguliers créent un environnement imprévisible. On a remarqué que la nature persistante de l’occupation israélienne prive les civils (en particulier les enfants) d’un moment pour guérir. En conséquence, ils sont plongés dans un état constant de stress traumatique. En 2022, 90 % des enfants ressentent de l’anxiété de séparation par rapport à leurs parents, plus de 50 % ont envisagé le suicide, et 59 % présentent un mutisme réactif. De plus, le Guardian a rapporté que les enfants rencontrent également des difficultés à dormir. Cependant, les enfants ont développé des stratégies pour faire face à ces symptômes post-traumatiques de différentes manières. Cela inclut l’exposition active à des événements traumatiques et la résistance politique en tant que réponse au traumatisme causé par la violence politique.

Les jeunes Palestiniens, souvent des jeunes hommes et garçons, sont connus pour respecter leurs pairs battus/emprisonnés. De cette manière, ils transforment la peur de la persécution en courage. En revanche, les jeunes femmes et filles palestiniennes sont plus susceptibles de manifester des symptômes de SSPT par l’anxiété et la dépression. Ces caractéristiques correspondent aux attentes de genre des garçons/filles au Moyen-Orient. Sans surprise, les jeunes hommes et garçons qui adoptent ces comportements manifestent plus de symptômes de SSPT que leurs homologues féminins. L’exposition active au traumatisme est profondément liée à la résistance en tant que réponse au traumatisme.

Wispelwey & Jamei démontrent que l’activisme politique, en particulier la Grande Marche du Retour (GMR), peut avoir “un impact positif sur la santé mentale de la communauté via un sentiment d’agence, d’espoir”. La GMR, une série de manifestations initiée en mars 2018, était censée symboliser le droit des Palestiniens à retourner dans leur patrie (consacré par la résolution 194 de l’ONU). La GMR a adopté une atmosphère culturelle/festive remplie de danse, de nourriture et de chants. Les manifestants ont rencontré la réponse militariste de l’IDF – distribuant du gaz lacrymogène et tirant sur la foule – avec un sentiment ancré d’agence pour façonner leur réalité politique.

L’état désespéré de la santé mentale des enfants en Palestine est lié à la réalité de l’occupation israélienne. L’anxiété n’est pas une réponse irrationnelle à la guerre. La dépression n’est pas une réponse irrationnelle à un manque d’opportunités. Ce sont des symptômes psychologiques de décisions prises par des dirigeants politiques. Dans une lettre publiée par Save The Children, 6 enfants palestiniens – Salma, Niveen, Zain, Samer, Khaled et Amal – ont exposé leurs souhaits ; “La première chose que nous souhaitons, c’est que la guerre se termine… Nous espérons que tous les bâtiments détruits seront dégagés et que quelque chose de mieux et de plus beau viendra à leur place”. Les soins médicaux, l’infrastructure et le soutien communautaire seront essentiels pour la guérison. Un cessez-le-feu est la première étape de ce processus de guérison.

Déprivation des ressources pour les étudiants en Palestine

Au début de l’année 2023, les Nations unies ont enregistré au moins 423 incidents impactant les enfants palestiniens et leur éducation. Cela inclut les tirs des forces israéliennes sur les écoles et les enfants, les opérations et les démolitions d’écoles. Le Ministère de l’Éducation de Gaza a suspendu l’année scolaire 2023-2024. En raison des bombardements indiscriminés de Gaza, les écoles de la bande servent de “lieux sûrs” pour les Palestiniens. Cependant, même les écoles ont été visées par les bombardements israéliens.

Actuellement, les écoles gérées par l’UNRWA – l’Office de secours et de travaux des Nations unies pour les réfugiés de Palestine dans le Proche-Orient – ont été ciblées à de nombreuses reprises par des attaques israéliennes. Ces écoles sont censées être considérées comme des zones sécurisées pendant un conflit armé. Cependant, ce que nous constatons à Gaza, c’est le ciblage délibéré de civils innocents, en particulier d’enfants. Ce ciblage de ceux qui cherchent refuge dans les écoles entraîne finalement la mort et les blessures de nombreux civils. Cela conduit à la perturbation de l’éducation en raison de la perte de ressources lorsqu’un conflit armé cible les écoles et d’autres institutions éducatives.

Défense des Enfants International – Palestine, lauréate du Prix Rafto 2023, dans leur rapport “Enfant en Guerre, 2022”, a mentionné que les enfants palestiniens ont exprimé qu’ils ne veulent pas d’aide financière de la communauté internationale. Au lieu de cela, les enfants aimeraient être protégés des fouilles qui ont lieu aux checkpoints et des attaques qui se produisent à l’école. De plus, les défenseurs des droits de l’enfant de Palestine ont eu l’opportunité de participer à des réunions avec des organes internationaux de défense des droits de l’homme, mais aucune attention n’a été accordée pour répondre aux besoins des enfants. La réalité sur le terrain reste la même.

La bande de Gaza continue de subir des conflits armés, causant des dommages colossaux aux infrastructures et aux ressources éducatives. Un enfant est censé être à l’école pour apprendre, mais maintenant, il se rend à l’école avec sa famille pour se protéger des bombardements. Le nombre d’écoles endommagées s’élève à au moins 300 écoles et 183 enseignants ont été tués. De plus, le blocus d’Israël sur l’eau, la nourriture, les fournitures médicales, l’électricité et le carburant impose de graves risques pour l’accès aux ressources de ces enfants.

Une lacune dans l’éducation de l’enfant qui survient en raison du conflit, associée à l’absence de soutien psychosocial, peut laisser de nombreux enfants se sentir désespérément en retard. La situation à Gaza nécessite que les habitants reconstruisent leurs écoles, leur assainissement et d’autres ressources éducatives. Les habitants doivent trouver des moyens d’adapter des espaces d’apprentissage temporaires, obtenir le soutien de la communauté internationale pour reconstruire leurs systèmes éducatifs et, surtout, trouver des enseignants équipés pour comprendre l’environnement brisé de ces jeunes esprits. L’éducation est extrêmement cruciale dans cet environnement déchirant, car elle offre l’épine dorsale et la liberté potentielle pour surmonter certaines des difficultés rencontrées par ces enfants palestiniens.

Alors que d’innombrables lois et mécanismes internationaux sont en place, les faire respecter a été un processus inefficace principalement en raison d’une intervention internationale minimale. Il est manifestement évident que les attaques israéliennes contre la Palestine se moquent du droit international humanitaire.

Nous laissons nos lecteurs avec ces questions :

Quand l’éducation, un droit fondamental de l’homme consacré dans la Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, cesse-t-elle d’être un luxe lointain pour les enfants de Palestine ?

Quand un enfant de Palestine cesse-t-il d’être un “enfant de guerre” et adopte-t-il une vie d’apprentissage, de croissance et de bonheur positifs ?”

References

Agbaria, N., Petzold, S., Deckert, A., Henschke, N., Veronese, G., Dambach, P., Jaenisch, T., Horstick, O., & Winkler, V. (2020). Prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder among Palestinian children and adolescents exposed to political violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE, 16(8), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256426
Al Jazeera Net. (2004). Israeli Efforts to Change the Palestinian Educational Curriculum جهود إسرائيلية محمومة لتغيير مناهج التعليم الفلسطينية. Al Jazeera Net. https://www.aljazeera.net/news
Al Jazeera Net. (2017). Accusing the Palestinian curriculum of incitement against Israel. Al Jazeera Net. https://www.aljazeera.net/news/presstour
Al Jazeera. (2023). Many killed in Israeli attacks on two schools in northern Gaza. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-forces-strike-al-fakhoora-school-in-northern-gaza
Anadolu staff. (2023, November). Gaza death toll soars to 11,320 amid relentless Israeli attacks, including 4,650 children. aa.com. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/gaza-death-toll-soars-to-11-320-amid-relentless-israeli-attacks-including-4-650-children/3053701#
BBC News. (2018, January 17). UN alarmed as US cuts aid to Palestinian refugee agency. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42717333
Becker, Jo. “Israel/Gaza Hostilities Take Horrific Toll on Children.” Human Rights Watch. November 22, 2023. https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/11/22/israel/gaza-hostilities-take-horrific-toll-children
Defence for Children International. “Children affected by armed Conflict.” defenceforchildren.org 2022. https://defenceforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Children-and-Armed-Conflict-Report.pdf
Dimitry, L. D. (2011). A systematic review on the mental health of children and adolescents in areas of armed conflict in the Middle East. Child: Care, Health and Development, 38(2), 153–161. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01246.x
Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack. (2022). Measuring the Impact of Attacks on Education in Palestine. https://protectingeducation.org/wp- content/uploads/impact_attackeducation_palestine_2022_en.pdf
Mhawish, Mohammed R. “‘Why bomb schools?’ Gaza families have no safe space amid Israeli attacks”. aljazeera.com October 10, 2023. https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/10/10/why-bomb-schools-gaza-families-have-no-safe-space-amid-israeli-attacks
Middle East Monitor. “Amidst the bombing, school year suspended in Gaza.” middleeastmonitor.com November 6, 2023. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231106-amidst-the-bombing-school-year-suspended-in-gaza/
Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Schools Placement Around Palestine. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Basic_Schools_ar.html
Palestinian Ministry of Education. (2023). Sectoral strategy for education. https://www.moe.pna.ps/category/content/1036
Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. (n.d.). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. State of Palestine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates. http://www.mofa.pna.ps
Save the Children International. (2022, June 15). After 15 years of blockade, four out of five children in Gaza say they are living with depression, grief and fear. https://www.savethechildren.net/news/after-15-years-blockade-four-out-five-children-gaza-say-they-are-living-depression-grief-and
Save The Children. (2022). Trapped: The Impact of 15 years of blockade on the mental health of Gaza’s children. https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/gaza_blockade_mental_health_palestinian_children_2022.pdf/
Sherwood, H. (2023, October 22). Children in Gaza ‘developing severe trauma’ after 16 days of bombing. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/22/children-in-gaza-developing-severe-trauma-after-16-days-of-bombing
UNESCO. (2023). Gaza: UNESCO calls for an immediate halt to strikes against schools. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gaza-unesco-calls-immediate-halt-strikes-against-schools
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. “Back to school: 1.3 million Palestinian children in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are returning to school during a tumultuous year.” ochaopt.org August 21, 2023. http://www.ochaopt.org/content/back-school-13-million-palestinian-children-west-bank-and-gaza-strip-are-returning-school-during-tumultuous
UNRWA. (2023). THE GAZA STRIP: UNRWA SCHOOLS SHELTERING DISPLACED PEOPLE CONSTANTLY. UNRWA. https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/gaza-strip-unrwa-schools-sheltering-displaced-people-constantly-hit
Wispelwey, B. W., & James, Y. A. J. (2020). The Great March of Return. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(1), 179–186. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26923484
World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

crimes against humanity Gaza Gaza Strip genocide Israel and Occcupied Palestinian territories Israel-Hamas war Palestine UDHR United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Universal Declaration of Human Rights war crimes West Bank

Press Release:Addressing the Silent Crisis- Κρίση της Σιωπής: Η μη κυβερνητική οργάνωση Broken Chalk αναγνωρίζει την έμφυλο ζήτημα της Βίας κατά των Γυναικών και των Επιπτώσεών της στον τομέα της Εκπαίδευσης.

November 25, 2023

Η παγκόσμια κοινότητα οφείλει να λάβει δράση για την υπεράσπιση του Έμφυλου ζητήματος της Βίας Κατά των Γυναικών. Είναι γεγονός ότι 1 στις 3 γυναίκες έχουν βιώσει σωματική ή σεξουαλική παρενόχληση, 5 γυναίκες κάθε μία ώρα κακοποιούνται ή σκοτώνονται από άτομα αντίθετου φύλου μέσα στην οικογένειά τους. Η Broken Chalk σημειώνοντας τον αντίκτυπο της Βίας Κατά των Γυναικών στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης κρίνει επείγουσα την ανάγκη να αντιμετωπιστεί το κοινωνικό και συστημικό πρόβλημα. Στα σχολεία, οι ανεπιθύμητες συμπεριφορές όπως η σεξουαλική παρενόχληση και ο ψυχολογικός εκφοβισμός αποτελούν μια πραγματικότητα· Σε πολλές κοινωνίες, τα κορίτσια δεν μπορούν να αξιοποιούν το ίδιο τους δικαίωμα στην εκπαίδευση καθώς καλούνται είτε να προχωρήσουν σε κάποιον γάμο ακολουθώντας τα κοινωνικά πρότυπα, είτε βιώνοντας την βία στα ίδια τους τα σπίτια.

Η παγκόσμια κοινότητα αντιμετωπίζει σοβαρές προκλήσεις, όπως η πανδημία COVID-19, η κλιματική αλλαγή, οι οικονομικές κρίσεις και η πολιτική αστάθεια. Αυτοί οι παράγοντες ενισχύουν τα φαινόμενα της βίας και θέτουν σε κίνδυνο την απόλαυση των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων σε όλους τους τομείς, με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στον τομέα της εκπαίδευσης. Οι κίνδυνοι της βίας στο εκπαιδευτικό πλαίσιο αυξάνονται, καθώς το γυναικείο φύλο συχνά γίνεται θύμα ανεπιθύμητων σχολίων και βίαιων συμπεριφορών, δημιουργώντας αναστάτωση και αποθάρρυνση που μπορεί να εμποδίσει τις ίδιες να συνεχίσουν τη φοίτησή τους. Οι νεαρές κοπέλες σε μικρή ηλικία ενδέχεται να μην παρακολουθούν τα μαθήματά τους, ενώ ακόμα και οι γονείς τους ενδέχεται να αποθαρρύνονται να τις στέλνουν στο σχολείο. Είναι γεγονός πως, τα θύματα κακοποίησης έχουν πολύ υψηλότερα ποσοστά εγκατάλειψης των μαθημάτων τους ενώ μάλιστα ένα μεγάλο ποσοστό σημειώνει και μαθησιακές δυσκολίες, αποτελώντας σοβαρή απειλή για τη γενική ισότητα των φύλων και την ενδυνάμωση των επερχόμενων γενεών των γυναικών.

Μέσα σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, είναι απογοητευτικό να παρατηρείται το γεγονός ότι μόνο το 0,2% συνολικής προσπάθειας της Global Official Development Assistance μεριμνά για την πρόληψη της Έμφυλης Βίας. Ως ΜΚΟ η Broken Chalk αναγνωρίζει ότι οι επιπτώσεις της βίας κατά των γυναικών και των κοριτσιών (VAWG) είναι βαθιά ριζωμένες στο κοινωνικό, οικονομικό, πολιτικό και συστημικό σύστημαενισχύοντας ολοένα και περισσότερο τη διαφθορά, τις ανισότητες, και διαταράσσοντας την ανάπτυξη αλλα και την διασφάλιση της ειρήνης.

Η Έμφυλη Βία συμβαίνει, και επηρεάζει τόσο την δομή της κοινωνίας όσο και την εκπαίδευση. Η βία μπορεί να υπάρχει στο διπλανό θρανίο, στον δρόμο, στο διαδίκτυο, από τον σύντροφο, τους συμμαθητές, αγνώστους, τα μέλη της οικογένειας ή και απο τους ίδιους τους γονείς/κηδεμόνες. Ένα κορίτσι έχει πολλές περισσότερες πιθανότητες να δεχτεί βίαιες και ανεπιθύμητες συμπεριφορές επειδή απλά είναι κορίτσι σημειώνοντας σημαντικά αρνητικές επιπτώσεις τόσο αναπτυξιακά όσο και ακαδημαικά. Η UNICEF σημειώνει ότι οι παιδικές ηλικίες 5 έως 8 ετών που έχουν δεχθεί βίαιες συμπεριφορές τείνουν να σημειώνουν χαμηλότερες δεξιότητες λεξιλογίου και αριθμητικής. Η βία των γυναικών στο πλαίσιο της εκπαίδευσης αποτελεί έναν λόγο που αναγκάζουν το γυναικείο φύλο να εγκαταλείπει το σχολείο: 129 εκατομμύρια κορίτσια δεν πηγαίνουν στο σχολείο. Η μη πλήρη ενημέρωση και πρόληψη του κοινωνικού στίγματος αναπαράγει ένα κλίμα ανασφάλειας ντροπής.

Παρόλο που έχει γίνει προσπάθεια να εξαλειφθεί η Έμφυλη Βία, τα παραπάνω γεγονότα δείχνουν ότι απαιτείται περισσότερη υπευθυνότητα, διαφάνεια και δράση. Η Broken Chalk τονίζει ότι η εκπαίδευση, μέσω των κατάλληλων πρακτικών, είναι το κλειδί για να προάσπιση και την εξάλειψη της Έμφυλης Βίας. Η εκπαίδευση είναι ένα ισχυρό εργαλείο που μπορεί να χρησιμοποιηθεί για να αναθεωρήσει συμπεριφορές, να εξαλείψει το κοινωνικό στίγμα και να διδάξει στα νέα μυαλά να συμπεριφέρονται με σεβασμό και εκτίμηση προς κάθε φύλο. Επιπλέον, η εκπαίδευση οφείλει να εκπαιδεύσει, να ενημερώσει και να ευαισθητοποιήσει σχετικά με το τι είναι η βία. Είναι γεγονός πως, η έλλειψη ενημέρωσης γύρω απο την Έμφυλη Βία, συνεπάγεται με μια προσπάθεια κανονικοποίησης ανεπιθυμήτων συμπεριφορών ώστε τα θύματα πολλές φορές δεν συνειδητοποιούν καν ότι παραβιάζονται τα δικαιώματά τους, πράγμα που συμβάλλει στο ότι λιγότερο από το 40% των γυναικών που βιώνουν βία ζητούν οποιαδήποτε μορφή βοήθειας ή την αναφέρουν.

Για αυτόν τον λόγο, το Broken Chalk συμμετέχει στις 16 Μέρες Δράσης κατά της Έμφυλης Βίας, μια ετήσια διεθνής εκστρατεία που ξεκινά την 25η Νοεμβρίου, Διεθνής ‘Ημέρα για την Εξάλειψη της Βίας κατά των Γυναικών, και διαρκεί μέχρι την Ημέρα των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων στις 10 Δεκεμβρίου. Το θέμα της φετινής εκστρατείας είναι “ Η ΕΝΩΣΗ! Η επένδυση για την πρόληψη της βίας κατά των γυναικών και των κοριτσιών”. Η Broken Chalk συμμετέχει στο κίνημα και τονίζει οτι την επείγουσαδράση για την πρόληψη της έμφυλης Βίας, με ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στην εκπαίδευση. Επιπλέον, η Broken Chalk τονίζει την αναθεώρηση των θεσμικών λειτουργιών εμπεριέχοντας διαθεματικές προσεγγίσεις, συγκεκριμένα για την κατανόηση των επιπλέον δυσκολιών και επιθέσεων που αντιμετωπίζουν οι γυναίκες χρώματος και οι γυναίκες της LGBTQ+, τόσο στην εκπαίδευσή τους όσο και στην καθημερινή τους ζωή.

Broken Chalk announces it to the public with due respect.

Signed,

Broken Chalk

Translated by Freideriki Tsegkou from the original Press Release: Addressing the Silent Crisis.

*Upon request, the article may be translated into other languages. Please use the comments section below*

domestic violence Freideriki Tsegkou gender-based violence Girls Education International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women psychological violence sexual harassment Violence Against Girls violence against women women's education

International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Written by Benjamin Koponen, Caren Thomas & Zina Sabbagh

Palestine’s Educational Landscape

Amid the recent escalations in Gaza, Bisan Owda, a journalist from the area, begins most of her interviews by acknowledging her survival. Her words echo the harrowing reality. “There is no place safe in Gaza.” – wizard_bisan1, Instagram, 2023

The devastating impact on educational institutions underscores this stark truth. Over 200 schools have been ruthlessly damaged, bombed, or entirely razed in this small geographic region.^ⁱ Shockingly, this accounts for almost 40% of the total number of schools in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) facilities and schools, which are considered a protected establishment by international law and the global community, no longer carry the assurance of safety.^ⁱⁱ The reality became painfully evident with the bombing of Al Fakhoura UNRWA school, a widely recognized establishment in northern Gaza, on November 19^th.^ⁱⁱⁱ At the time, over 7,000 individuals, including teachers, students, families, and the elderly, sought refuge within its walls. In an instant, this sanctuary, an educational institute that helped dreams and hopes to become a reality, was destroyed.

Delving deeper into Palestinians’ challenges within the educational sphere offers a clearer picture of their struggles. Palestinian secondary education comprises three primary sectors: Private schools, public schools, and UNRWA schools specifically established for Palestinian refugees.^{^iv} These institutions adhere to the standardized Palestinian Curriculum set by the Palestinian Government. An intriguing aspect to note is the continuous scrutiny and censorship imposed by the Israeli Government on the standardized Palestinian Curriculum.^{^v} The Israeli authorities restrict detailed information about Palestinian heritage, culture, and history.^{^vi}

Additionally, the very depiction of a map outlining the borders of Palestine is consistently banned. This forces the Palestinian curriculum to be extremely flexible because continuous changes are happening to it.^{^vii} Moreover, both students and teachers face numerous obstacles in accessing schools. Throughout the West Bank, checkpoints present a significant hindrance, impeding the transit of individuals to educational institutions. Similarly, in Gaza, the frequent bombings further increase the challenges faced by students and educators in their pursuit of education ^{^viii}.

Another obstacle that the secondary educational sector faces is funding. A report by the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) mentioned that around US$3.55 million would be required to repair the damages to school facilities from the aggression that happened in May 2021.^{^ix} Due to the Israeli Military Occupation, the economy of the Palestinian Authority is severely hindered. Thus, the educational sector heavily depends on donations and aid from the international community, primarily the UN.^{^x} However, since 2016, the aid for the UNWRA schools has been radically decreasing due to changes in the political arena.^{^xi}

Gaza’s schools consist of 284 UNRWA facilities out of 561 schools due to the high population of refugees from neighbouring villages that got destroyed.^{^xii} Therefore, many of these schools lack the infrastructure, classes, and materials to function properly; however, they are still prospering and using as much material as they can to operate at their best capacity. Even when the students surpass all of these difficult challenges, when they want to pursue higher education outside of Gaza, they are denied permits from Israel, thereby confining them in Gaza.

Concerning education, there are numerous tactics employed by the Israeli Occupation that exacerbate these hardships. Even if there was an end to the destruction and war against Gaza, the trauma and PTSD faced by students, teachers, and other individuals will take generations to process, heal, and fully recover.

Mental Health of Palestinian Children

Mental health is a delicate prism through which human beings understand themselves and the world around them. This prism is ymbolizezed by peoples’ ability to manage stress, nurture their talents, learn/work effectively, and support their community.^{^xiii} These resilience strategies are not coping mechanisms of living through trauma but allow people to move past setbacks and grow as individuals. However, traumatic incidents in childhood–such as warfare–can induce levels of stress which surpass the efficacy of healthy coping mechanisms. The continued bombing, displacement, and occupation of Gaza/West Bank has increased anxiety, depression, and PTSD amongst local Palestinian children.

Since October 7^th, the IDF has killed approximately 11,320 Palestinian civilians.^{^xiv} These include 4,650 children and 3,145 women, leaving 29,200 injured and 3,600 unaccounted for (of which 1,755 children).^{^xv} Twelve years ago, Dimitry found that “conflict-related traumatic experiences correlate positively with prevalence of mental, behavioural and emotional problems”.^{^xvi}

As far back as 2011, approximately 23% to 70% of children were reported to suffer from PTSD.^{^xvii} Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prolonged mental/physiological response to extremely tense experiences. For Palestinian children, exposure to terrorist attacks, being displaced from one’s homes, violent abuse, and witnessing daily humiliation force them into survival mode.^{^xviii}

Maintaining a daily routine is integral to ensuring children’s mental health. However, the destruction of schools, homes, and regular displacement produce an unpredictable environment. It has been noted that the persisting nature of Israeli occupation eliminates civilians (especially children) a moment to heal.^{^xix} As a result, they are thrown into a constant state of traumatic stress. In 2022, 90% of children experience separation anxiety from parents, over 50% have pontificated suicide, and 59% experience reactive mutism.^{^xx} Furthermore, the Guardian has reported that children are also experiencing sleeping difficulties.^{^xxi} However, children have developed strategies for responding to these post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in different ways. These include active exposure to traumatic events and political resistance as trauma responses to political violence.

Palestinian youth–often young men and boys– have been known to hold peers who have been beaten/imprisoned with respect.^{^xxii} In this way, they transform the fear of persecution into courage. In contrast, young Palestinian women and girls are more likely to express PTSS through anxiety and depression.^{^xxiii} These characteristics align with the gendered expectations of boys/girls in the Middle East. Unsurprisingly, young men and boys who engage in these behaviours demonstrate more PTSS than their female counterparts.^{^xxiv} Active exposure to trauma is deeply interconnected to resistance as a trauma response.

Wispelwey & Jamei demonstrate that political activism, specifically the Great March of Return (GMR), can provide “a positive impact on community mental health via a sense of agency, hope”.^{^xxv} The GMR, a series of demonstrations initiated in March 2018, was meant to ymbolize Palestinians’ right to return to their homeland (enshrined by UN Resolution 194). The GMR adopted a cultural/celebratory atmosphere filled with dancing, food, and chanting. Protesters met the IDF’s militaristic response–dispensing tear gas and sniping into the crowd–with an entrenched feeling of agency to shape their political reality.^{^xxvi}

The desperate state of children’s mental health in Palestine is entangled with the reality of Israeli occupation. Anxiety is not an irrational response to warfare. Depression is not an irrational response to a lack of opportunities. These are psychological symptoms of decisions made by political leaders. In a letter published by Save The Children, 6 Palestinian children–Salma, Niveen, Zain, Samer, Khaled and Amal outlined their wishes; “The first thing we wish is that the war would end…We hope that all the destroyed buildings will be cleared away and something better and more beautiful will come in their place”.^{^xxvii} Medical care, infrastructure, and community support will be integral to healing. A ceasefire is the first step in this healing process.

Deprivation of resources for students in Palestine

At the beginning of the year 2023, the United Nations recorded at least 423 incidents impacting Palestinian children and their education. This includes the firing by Israeli forces on schools and children conducting operations and demolishing schools.^xxviii The Gaza’s Ministry of Education^xxix has suspended the school year 2023-2024. Due to the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza, schools in the Strip are being used as “safe spaces” for the Palestinians. However, even the schools have been targeted by Israeli bombing.

Currently, schools run by UNRWA – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees – have been targeted numerous times by Israeli attacks.^xxx These schools are supposed to be considered as secure zones during an armed conflict. However, what we’re witnessing in Gaza is the deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, particularly children. This targeting of those seeking refuge in schools ultimately leads to the death and injury of many civilians. It leads to the disruption of education due to the loss of resources that occurs when an armed conflict targets schools and other educational institutions.

Defense for Children International – Palestine, who are winners of the Rafto Prize, 2023, in their ‘Child in War, 2022 report^xxxi had mentioned that Palestinian children have expressed that they do not want financial assistance from the international community. Instead, the children would like to be protected from the searches that take place during checkpoints and attacks that take place at school. Furthermore, child human rights defenders from Palestine were given the chance to partake in meetings with international human rights bodies, but no heed was given to address the needs of the children. The ground reality continues to remain the same.

The Gaza Strip continues to witness armed conflict, causing colossal damage to infrastructure and other educational resources. A child is supposed to be in school for education but now goes to school with their families for potential shelter from the bombings. The number of schools damaged is at least 300 schools and 183 teachers have reportedly been killed.^xxxii Additionally, the Israel blockade of water, food, medical supplies, electricity and fuel imposes grave risks on the access to resources for these children.

A gap in the child’s education that has occurred due to conflict, coupled with the absence of psychosocial support, may leave many children feeling hopelessly behind. The situation in Gaza requires the people to rebuild their schools, sanitation and other educational resources. The people need to find ways to accommodate temporary learning spaces, obtain support from the international community to rebuild their educational systems and, most importantly, find teaching staff equipped to understand the fractured environment of these young minds. Education is extremely crucial in this heart-wrenching environment as it offers the backbone and potential freedom to overcome some of the difficulties faced by these Palestinian children.

While countless international laws and mechanisms are in place, enforcing them has been an ineffective process mainly due to minimal international intervention. It is unequivocally evident that the Israel attacks on Palestine are a mockery of international humanitarian law.

We leave our readers with these questions.

When does education, a fundamental human right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, cease to be a distant luxury for the children of Palestine?

When does a child of Palestine stop being a “child of war” and embrace a life of positive learning, growth and happiness?

References

i UNESCO. (2023). Gaza: UNESCO calls for an immediate halt to strikes against schools. UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/gaza-unesco-calls-immediate-halt-strikes-against-schools

iv Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Schools Placement Around Palestine. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Basic_Schools_ar.html

v Al Jazeera Net. (2017). Accusing the Palestinian curriculum of incitement against Israel. Al Jazeera Net. https://www.aljazeera.net/news/presstour

vii Palestinian Ministry of Education. (2023). Sectoral strategy for education. https://www.moe.pna.ps/category/content/1036

x Palestinian Ministry of Education. (2023). Sectoral strategy for education. https://www.moe.pna.ps/category/content/1036

xi BBC News. (2018, January 17). UN alarmed as US cuts aid to Palestinian refugee agency. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-42717333

xii Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. (2023). Schools Placement Around Palestine. https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/Portals/_Rainbow/Documents/Basic_Schools_ar.html

xiii World Health Organization: WHO. (2022, June 17). Mental health. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-strengthening-our-response

xxiii Wispelwey, B. W., & James, Y. A. J. (2020). The Great March of Return. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(1), 179–186. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26923484

xxv Wispelwey, B. W., & James, Y. A. J. (2020). The Great March of Return. Health and Human Rights Journal, 22(1), 179–186. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/26923484

Press Release: Breaking Barriers. Broken Chalk’s Call for an Immediate Ceasefire and Self-Determination on this year’s International Day of Solidarity for Palestinians

As we reflect on this historic November 29th, marking 76 years since the UN partition plan, the world must stand united in solidarity with the Palestinian people, recognising their inherent right to resist occupation and achieve self-determination. On this heartbreaking International Day of Solidarity for Palestinians, Broken Chalk not only amplifies its voice but passionately advocates for the union of the Palestinian people under one sovereign territory and for a harmonious resolution to the enduring 75-year Israeli-Palestinian conflict.On this day in 1947, the UN adopted the partition plan, carving out a vision for a Jewish state and a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as an international zone “corpus separatum.” This historic decision laid the groundwork for a two-state solution based on the principles of equal rights and self-determination under the UN Charter in Article 1 (2).^¹

In the wake of recent events, Broken Chalk echoes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ assertion that the October 7th attacks by Hamas “did not occur in a vacuum” and are intertwined with the 75-year struggle for self-determination and the resistance to Israeli occupation.^² Since Hamas’ recent attack on October 7th 2023, there have been over 12,000 civilians killed in the Gaza Strip, with over 5000 being children.^³ “Gaza has become a graveyard for children”, speaks the UN Secretary-General Guterres.^⁴

Broken Chalk asserts the importance of fostering political bipartisan dialogue in pursuing a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Recognising the urgency of a two-state solution, we emphasise that the path to genuine self-determination for Palestinians must begin at the grassroots level. It is imperative that civil society be granted full autonomy to shape and forge its own states, free from external impositions. As we contemplate the long-term aspirations for Palestinian self-determination, it becomes clear that a pivotal step forward is the acknowledgement that Palestinians possess the agency to construct a model for their own state independently, free from external constraints imposed by Israel or the international community.

On this day, the 29th of November, it is imperative to passionately reassert the immediate need to uphold the commitment to a two-state solution, fostering an environment where both Palestinians and Israelis thrive with unbridled autonomy and sovereignty. A reunion of Palestinians residing in both the West Bank and Gaza must transcend mere consideration; it demands recognition as an enduring solution embedded within Israel’s policy commitments and the collective conscience of the international community. The existing division among Palestinians in these two territories not only hampers the realisation of Palestinian self-determination but also perpetuates the challenges posed by unlawful settlements in the West Bank and the apparent stagnation of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

While acknowledging Israel’s legitimate right to defend itself against a terrorist organisation wholly committed to dismantling the Jewish state, Broken Chalk emphasises the utmost importance of unwavering adherence to international law, with a specific focus on maintaining proportionality in response to security threats.^⁵ In condemning the universally deplorable attack by Hamas, it is crucial to highlight the disparity in Israel’s approach. Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing collective punishment for the actions of Hamas, raising questions about the proportionality of Israel’s response. The methods employed by the Israeli Defense Forces appear incongruent with the target objectives, as the alarming ratio of casualties reveals a stark imbalance – for every Israeli civilian lost, 10 Palestinians have paid a devastating price.^⁶ As we navigate this complex landscape, Broken Chalk advocates for a measured and proportionate approach that respects the principles of international law while safeguarding the rights and lives of all those affected by the conflict.

The recent attacks have dealt a significant blow to the prospects of a two-state solution, with reports suggesting Palestinians in Gaza facing displacement into Sinai, Egypt, amid ongoing negotiations.^⁷ It is crucial to shed light on the challenges Gaza faces, where limited control over its territory, borders, and economy impedes its ability to exercise full autonomy. Broken Chalk condemns the reported relocation of Palestinians to Southern Gaza and urges all parties involved to prioritise the preservation of human rights and international law.^⁸

In alignment with Broken Chalk’s mission to make education universal, we find the cataclysmic attack on the al-Fakhoora school, operated by the UNRWA, extremely deplorable. ^⁹ Targeting educational institutions undermines the fundamental right to education for all and hampers the prospects for a brighter future for Palestinians. As children are the future of our world, the international community must do whatever is necessary to prevent attacks on refugee camps and schools and to prevent the further loss of life of innocent men, women, and children. We call for a prospective collaboration with other NGOs to make a fundraising campaign as an emergency aid for those affected in Gaza.

As we stand together in solidarity with Palestinians on this significant day, Broken Chalk calls on the international community to renew its commitment to a just and lasting resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis. We call for an immediate ceasefire and a revision of the UN partition plan in which both sides uphold the right to self-determination.

Broken Chalk announces it to the public with due respect.

Signed,

Broken Chalk

References

1 https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/purposes-and-principles-un-chapter-i-un-charter#rel1

2 https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-united-nations-antonio-guterres-hamas-attack-vacuum-comments/

3 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/18/israeli-air-strikes-kill-28-palestinians-in-southern-gaza#:~:text=Since October 7, more than,to about 2.3 million people.

4 https://www.dci-palestine.org/4237_palestinian_children_killed_as_gaza_becomes_graveyard_for_children

5 https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/proportionality/

6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jsJYHuGPms

7 https://www.timesofisrael.com/intelligence-ministry-concept-paper-proposes-transferring-gazans-to-egypts-sinai/

8 https://edition.cnn.com/2023/11/08/world/palestinians-fleeing-south-gaza-city-unbearable-situation/index.html

9 https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-50-killed-in-israeli-airstrikes-on-al-fakhoora-school-in-gazas-jabalia-refugee-camp-660179

Ceasefire Israel Palestine Palestinian children

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.