Statements

IBBY joins millions around the world in calling for an end to the nightmare of ongoing killing of children in Gaza, the Occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

The staggering human toll of more than 13 months of war is still being measured. An analysis of the casualties in Gaza since 7 October 2023, which was published by the United Nations’ Human Rights Office on 8 November 2024, found that almost 70 percent of those killed were women and children. The ages most represented among the dead were 5- to 9-year-olds. Some 80% of those killed perished inside residential buildings or housing.

With over 17,000 Palestinian children killed, thousands buried under rubble, 40,000 wounded, many orphaned, and hundreds left with lifelong disabilities, UNICEF’s spokesperson James Elder has described the situation as “a nightmare become reality.”

The forced cessation of UNRWA’s essential humanitarian work will compound these outrages and, in words of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, “have direct impacts on the human rights of those depending on its assistance”. Urgent protection must be provided for Palestinian and Lebanese children.

IBBY urgently calls on international leaders, humanitarian organizations, and global civil society to take action for immediate ceasefire and the halt of all military operations in Gaza, and the West Bank. We welcome the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and hope the ceasefire will be lasting. In addition, IBBY calls for the immediate return of aid, both medical and food, to the many who are facing starvation and imminent death.

IBBY has long supported children living in crisis, and is a pioneer in devising projects that provide books and bibliotherapy to traumatised and distressed young people worldwide. Its commitment in Palestine began in Gaza in 2008 with the establishment of two children’s libraries, which sadly have been repeatedly destroyed by Israeli attacks. Yet with support of IBBY International and the local community, the libraries’ mission has persisted despite displacement and destruction.

IBBY pledges to revive and rebuild these libraries, commence bibliotherapy and psychosocial activities for the children in makeshift spaces, and support them wholeheartedly. Some of our sections have commenced fund raising activities already. We call on friends to join us in our effort to raise funds for children in dire need. Every donation, large or small, will make a difference, and be deeply appreciated.

Basarat Kazim
IBBY President
on behalf of the IBBY Executive Committee

29 November 2024