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PHRMG deeply mourns the 67 Palestinians
that lost their lives this month as the Intifada burned on.
16 of those killed were children; 12 kids under age 15, 4
kids between ages 15-17. PHRMG also mourns the 13 Israelis
who died this month from the Intifada.
66% of the Palestinians who were
killed were residents of the Gaza Strip. 77% of the
Israelis who were killed were in the Occupied Palestinian
Territories.
Since the start of the al-Aqsa
Intifada on September 29, 2000, 2,237 Palestinians have lost
their lives. This total includes 430 children who were
killed; 228 kids under age 15, and 202 kids between ages
15-17. 720 Israelis have lost their lives since the
beginning of this catastrophe. This number includes 92
children and 226 security/army personnel. Thus, while the
conflict over land and security rages on, nearly 3,000 human
beings have returned to the land, where violent death has
cut their lives short. PHRMG grieves this as a tremendous
loss to both populations of people, and regrets that so much
mourning and suffering accompanies these deaths. Perhaps
most tragic is the 522 children who will never grow to be
adults because adults were in a bloody conflict, and their
precious, innocent little lives got caught in the
cross-fire. No children should die because of adults’ lack
of capability to resolve their issues. But 522 times in the
last 32 months of this conflict, mothers have tragically
laid the fruit of their wombs to the grave.
Also since the start of this monstrous
conflict, there have been 131 assassinations of Palestinians
commissioned by the State of Israel and carried out by their
army, often using American equipment. 137 suicide bombers
have responded like-wise with their version of targeted
killings. PHRMG condemns both practices and calls both
sides to gain wisdom and halt these slaughterous attacks.
It is completely horrible that such injustices reap mass
carnage and leave whole communities scarred and terrified.
PHRMG looks forward to a complete halt
of violence and terror and to the time when we can report a
month with no deaths because this conflict has been
resolved. We are hopeful that the upcoming meeting in Aqaba
will produce true positive results on the ground and that
the leaders involved will prove themselves to be men of
honesty, courage, and integrity, thus truly bringing peace
and security to each of their peoples. It will not be an
easy task and will involve many compromises to each side,
but we hope the death of 522 kids is enough to compel each
leader to finally proclaim, like the former Egyptian
President Anwar Sadat, “No more war.”
The PHRMG is a Palestinian, independent, non-governmental
organization working to end human rights violations
committed against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip,
and East Jerusalem, regardless of those responsible. The
members of the Monitoring Group believe that the strength of
democracy and civil society in Palestinian society will be
determined by the Palestinian people, through their defense
or neglect of human rights.
Ragheb Nashashibi Street 5
Sheikh Jarrah-Jerusalem
P.O. Box 19918
East Jerusalem 91198
admin@phrmg.org
www.phrmg.org
Tel. 972-2-582-3372/3
Fax. 972-2-582-3385 |
