The General Authority for Youth and Culture in Gaza affirmed, during a conference press in the Ministry of Media on the memory of International Children's Day yesterday, that the Palestinian children are the most affected by the Israeli policies and its continuous racist practices.

Director General of the Childhood and Vanguards Unit Mahmoud Baroud said: “At a time when the world celebrates Children's Day, there are children whose suffering has not stopped because of the occupation, and have been subjected to the most heinous racist crimes in flagrant violation of international laws that provide for the protection of children during conflicts and wars. How many Palestinian children have been deprived from seeing their fathers either with death or detention in prisons."

"The Palestinian child is considered the most targeted by the Israeli forces in killing operations. Statistics indicate that more than 2100 children have been killed, and tens of thousands have been wounded, including those who have been permanently disabled since 2000, and more than 50 thousand children have been arrested since 1967, at a rate of 500- 700 children per year."

"Children are also exposed to the most heinous forms of physical and psychological violence, in addition to the denial of children access to education, health and entertainment services and the problems of  poverty due to the deteriorating economic conditions and the ongoing blockade," he added.

Baroud continued: "We call on this world to pay attention to the attacks and violations that our children are exposed to, and to work to protect them, enable them to live in safety and freedom, and fulfill their dreams and wishes, just like the rest of the world’s children."