Statement: Situation in State of Palestine and Israel at dangerous tipping point

12th May 2021

Statement by UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore

NEW YORK, 12 May 2021 – “At least 14 children in the State of Palestine and 1 child in Israel have been reported killed since Monday.

“Another 95 children in Gaza and the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – and 3 children in Israel have reportedly been injured in the past five days.

“The situation is at a dangerous tipping point. The level of violence and its impact on children is devastating. We are on the brink of a full-scale war. In any war, children – all children – suffer first and suffer most.

“I call on all sides to end all violence and de-escalate tensions. I urge all sides to protect all civilians, especially children, to spare essential civilian infrastructure from attacks, and to end violations against children. I remind all sides of their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law.”

ENDS

Media contacts

Juliette Touma, Regional Chief of Communications, UNICEF Middle East and North Africa Regional Office, Tel: 00962798674628, Email: jtouma@unicef.org
Najwa Mekki, UNICEF New York, Tel: 0019172091804, Email: nmekki@unicef.org
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