TO SPECIALMEE,TING MARK 40 YEARS OF OCCUPATION BY ISRAEL OF THE PALESTINIANTERRITORY. INCLUDING EAST JERUSALEM

NE,WYORK UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, 7 June2007

STATEMENTBY

DR. MONA EL FARRA PROJECTS DIRECTOR MIDDLE,EAST CHILDREN'SALLIANCE, GAZA

Your ExcellencyMr. Paul Badji, Chairmanof the Committee, guestsandExcellencies, Distinguished

It is my honour to be amongstyou today, despitethe gravity of the occasionbeing commemorated, this 40'hanniversary on of the Israeli occupationof the GazaStrip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

First, let me say that 2007is the 40'hanniversary 59 years of of the brutal occupation the Palestinian of people.

As we called for an end to apartheidin SouthAfrica and the right of all peopleto live togetherand haveequalrights,we must now, before it is too late, call for true justice for the Palestinians.

Today,we heardaboutthe economicplight of the Palestinian people. We heardaboutPalestinians Israeliprisonswhich in numbercloseto 8,000men andwomen,includingapproximately 350 childrenunderthe ageof 14,most of whom havebeen tortured.

How many fIN resolutionsmust be passed the IIN? How by many yearsof calling for 2 States before thereis an understanding that Israel continuesits aggression the ground againstwomen, on children and men, the demolition of thousands homesand the of continuedbuilding of the apartheidwall?

Let us not just speakof the Palestinians the West Bank, in Gaza.We must neverforgetthosewho live as second-class citizensinsideIsraeland most of all, thosewho wereforcedfrom their homesand landsin I 948.

Now is the time to call for a real peace,with justice for all the childrenin the region. This can only be accomplished by supportingthe right of return of all Palestinians.

Now is the time to acknowledge that the two-Statesolution is not the answer.

From GazaI came,where the children of my country have no no health safehomes,no safestreets, proper and adequate facilities, no properfood, cleanwater, or regularelectricalpower,

4

no recreationalactivities and no good education. The list of deprivationof their basic needsis too long to count.

I lived this occupationas a child, and am still living it as an adult. I can seeit in the eyesof my daughterwhen she is afraid, because the unsafeand of tired, restlessand exhausted unpredictablequality of life rn Gazaunder occupation. I saw it as the soon as we crossed borderson our way to Egypt, where she sensedsomethingnew and different: freedom,safetyand space. Gazais like a big, unsafeprison. And it is a very small placefor 1.4 million people,half of whom are children.

I face the occupationevery day during my work when patientsare deniedpermits and hundredsof Palestinian accessibilityto proper medical treatment,outside Gaza. There are a few lucky patientswho get a referral and permit for treatment outsideGaza. The majority, however,haveto wait and wait. Many die while waiting.

than childrenwho do not have What is more heart-breaking to food and a healthy atmosphere grow up to be well adequate roundedadults? According to the Health Work Committees 42 Organization, per cent of children in Gazaunder the age of 5

5

anemia 45 percentsufferfrom and sufferfrom iron deficiency Disorder, to the due Stress someform of PostTraumatic
to that they are subjected as a result of the non-stop experiences military actionsof the Israeli OccupationForces,which almost alwavs affect civilians in one way or another.

I will never forget the story of a woman in labor, who had to wait severalhours at a checkpointlast November,during one of many Israeli military operationsin the north of Gaza. Eventually shearrived at the Al Awda hospitalin Jabaliarefugeecampwhere she gavebirth to her baby. When sheleft the hospitalwith the baby to go to home in the village of Beit Hanoun,therewas no by home;her homehad beendemolished the Israelioccupying army. There are many casesand many stories,but I believe it is not the numbersthat really matter,evenone incident suchas the aboveis one enoughhumanrights violation.

I remembera -yearold child in the samevillage who was of forcedto stayin one roomwith all members his family for48 their home. The child hours while the Israeli Army commandeered was thirsty and the soldierwas therewith his bottle of water,the occupiedand the occupierin the samespace. The soldier offered water to the thirsty child. The child said"no, no, no". The child's

6

naturalreactionwas a combinationof fear of what the soldier represents the steadfastness the face of the occupation. This and in people: steadfastness is what characterrzes Palestinian the and resistance the face of all adversity;even small children can in expressit with their naturalreactionsmore than any words or speeches.The soldier on the other hand is a humanbeing that has beenforcedby the Israelioccupation machineto losehis humanity.

WheneverI think of Palestinianchildren and their lives under occupation,I always think of the Israeli children. As adults,we have a commitmentto both setsof children to provide a safe environmentfor them to live peacefully. It is not the occupationor the wall or the ongoingaggression against peoplethat will my bring safetyor securityfor Israeli children, only peacethat is based on justice will do so. Justice meansthat the inalienable rights of peoplemustbe considered.Israelmustrecognize the Palestinian its moral responsibility towardsthe Palestinian refugees.

While Israel is physically outside Gaza.it still completely controlsour lives, all aspects our lives: health,education, of economyand freedomof movement.

7

Life under occupationis degradingto humandignity. It has deprivedus of our freedom,and only free peoplecan make peace. It is most peculiar that we are forced to deal with the patternsof life under occupationas normal, well-established facts and when people lost hope and faith in the world or any future chances for change,and when the world turns its headaway.

On the 40'hanniversary the Israeli occupationof the West of Bank, Gazaand EastJerusalem, is fitting to call onceagain on it the internationalcommunityto put pressure Israelto fulfil its on obligationsby abidingby the IIN resolutionsrelatedto PalestinianIsraeliconflict. Israelioccupation shouldbe endednow andthe right of return must not be forgotten.

Thank vou.

***