United Church of Canada Writes Minister of Foreign Affairs

~ from The United Church of Canada’s website

The United Church of Canada has written a letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs The Hon. Marc Garneau calling on him to take action to protect Palestinian children and human rights defenders in Palestine and Israel.

In the morning of July 29, 2021, the main offices of Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), a United Church of Canada partner based in Ramallah, was raided by Israeli forces. Computers and records were confiscated, including documents pertaining to legal services it provides to Palestinian children.

“This is part of growing attacks against human rights defenders in Palestine and Israel by Israeli authorities,” says DCIP. Just this week, DCIP investigated and reported on the killing of two more Palestinian children, bringing the toll of Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank this year to 11.

Israeli military killed 11-year-old Mohammad Mo’ayyad Bahjat Abu Sara and 17-year-old Mohammad Munir Mohammad Tamimi in the past week.
Credit: Defense for Children International-Palestine

The letter calls on Canada to

• issue an immediate statement condemning the extrajudicial killing of Palestinian children, and of Israel’s practice of detaining and prosecuting Palestinian children in military courts in violation of international law
• appoint a Special Envoy to monitor and report on the human rights situation of Palestinian children living in the occupied Palestinian territories
• hold Israeli military authorities accountable to their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law

Continue reading Say No to Extrajudicial Killing of Palestinian Children to learn ways of supporting Palestinian and Israeli human rights defenders in their efforts to protect, promote, and defend human rights, including the rights of Palestinian children.  The article also includes background information and links.

The letter to The Hon. Marc Garneau: