munitions suggests potential violations of the Arms Export Control Act, which prohibits the use of U.S. weapons against civilians. But the Biden administration has not acknowledged this, let alone taken any action. In fact, the U.S. government has continued to authorize weapons sales to Israel despite mounting evidence of war crimes.
The U.S. is complicit in the destruction of Gaza’s schools and the killing of innocent children. It is time for the international community to hold Israel and its enablers, including the United States, accountable for these atrocities.
Munitions were found at various sites in Gaza, including schools in Jabalia and Nuseirat. These munitions, including a GBU-39 bomb, were used in strikes that resulted in the deaths of many people, including displaced Palestinians seeking shelter. A U.S.-made F-16 fighter was involved in some of these attacks, causing significant damage to school buildings in the area.
Following these bombings, human rights groups criticized Israel for justifying the attacks and questioned the military necessity of targeting these civilian structures. The U.N. Human Rights Office also expressed concern over the pattern of IDF strikes on schools in Gaza, emphasizing Israel’s obligation to comply with international humanitarian law.
Due to the extensive damage to school buildings in Gaza, the rehabilitation process will be costly and time-consuming. Estimates suggest that over 85% of school buildings in the region have been damaged or destroyed, with the cost of rebuilding them exceeding $340 million. Restoring Gaza’s infrastructure to make it habitable for children and families may require billions of dollars, with incalculable costs associated with the human toll of the conflict. He posed the question, “You can rebuild a building, but how do you rebuild the lives of a million children?” during an interview with Bloomberg.
Since early October 2023, 625,000 children in Gaza have been deprived of access to education due to the ongoing conflict.
Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UNRWA, expressed concern over the impact of the war on children in Gaza, where a significant portion of the population is made up of children. He highlighted the damage to UNRWA schools, many of which have been used as shelters for displaced people.
UNICEF reported that 19,000 children have been separated from their parents since October 2023, with the majority of Gazans experiencing internal displacement and frequent relocations. The disruption to education has caused chaos in the lives of children, with many facing challenges in accessing basic necessities like water.
The prolonged educational disruptions in Gaza are expected to have long-term effects on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. UNRWA warned of the increased risk of dropouts, child labor, and early marriage as a result of children being out of school.
Even before the current conflict, a large number of children in Gaza were in need of mental health and psychosocial support. The ongoing conflict has exacerbated the situation, with UNICEF estimating that every child in Gaza now requires such services.
The State Department has been questioned about allegations of violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza, including the use of U.S. munitions in attacks on schools. Human rights groups have documented attacks by Israel that raise concerns about violations of international law.
Despite acknowledging these violations, the United States has continued to provide support to Israel through arms transfers. The suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza is expected to have long-lasting consequences for the region and the world. Could you please rewrite this sentence?
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