WUNRN
UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights Statement of Alarm on Mounting Civilian Death Toll in Gaza & Appeal
to All Sides to Abide by International Law
11 July 2014.....As of Thursday early
afternoon, 88 Palestinians, including at least 21 children and 11 women, had
been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes since the beginning of
Israel’s latest military operation “Protective Edge” on Tuesday night. Reports
suggest that hundreds more have been injured......
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Women's Learning Partnership
PALESTINE - REPORT FROM THE GROUND
& WOMEN'S CALL FOR PEACE
Gaza,
Palestine - July 11, 2014 - Since this Monday, over 90 people – nearly half
women and children – have been killed in Gaza. Thousands of children are
experiencing what it is like to be bombarded; thousands of families are now
without shelter. The military bomb attacks on the densely populated Gaza Strip
have resulted in an immense human toll, while rockets continue to be fired at
families on the Israeli side of the border, feeding the cycle of
violence.
“I wait for the rockets
to bomb my house at any minute, I see them coming. Everyone is targeted.”
- Women’s Affairs Technical Committee Member
WLP's partner in Palestine, Women’s Affairs Technical
Committee (WATC), with offices in Gaza, recently updated WLP on the situation
on the ground, the details of which are heartbreaking.
In addition to those injured directly in attacks, hospitals are beyond capacity, only treating urgent cases. Civilians with chronic diseases and the elderly cannot get the treatment they need. Several WATC members were forced to abandon their homes due to bombings close by. One woman fled with only diapers and formula for her six month old baby, while another WATC member’s newly constructed house was completely destroyed.
WLP calls on militants and governments on both sides to end the violence. WLP calls on the international community and global citizens to pressure the governments of both sides to seek a political solution, the only road to security and a just peace for both the people of Israel and Palestine.
"Our
colleagues in Gaza have not been able to get out of their homes since the
attack started. We have not been able to talk to them easily as the electricity
has been cut and some of them left their homes. Some colleagues have small
children who are in need of comfort and need to understand what is happening. We
many times feel helpless and with anger as we are not able to help directly, in
addition we are also concerned about our own safety in the West Bank, as
settlers are escalating their attacks and the roads and streets are not safe
any more."
- Soraida Hussein, Women's Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) General Director
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________