The escalation of violence in Gaza since December 27 is unprecedented in scope and destruction. After weeks of a debilitating blockade of Gaza's borders, the surge in military violence has had a compounding effect on civilians, particularly children, who suffer emotionally and physically as a result of the violence. World Vision strongly urges all parties to recommit to an immediate ceasefire.

It is the most vulnerable-children and other civilians-who experience the greatest suffering in these situations. In the current attack on Gaza, dozens of children have been killed or injured, adding to the more than 1,000 Palestinian and more than100 Israeli children who have been killed in the conflict since 2000. Furthermore, an untold number of children in Gaza and southern Israel live in fear as a result of the broken ceasefire. We mourn for all those killed and are deeply concerned with the lasting impact of this violence on the affected populations.

World Vision has consistently called for all sides to refrain from violence. Moreover, we have called for an end to the 18 month blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians, which has devastated the Gazan economy, halted services, and rendered its people to be entirely dependent on humanitarian assistance. The current bombardment comes at a time when the Gazan population is already severely afflicted, living in dire poverty.

In Gaza, World Vision programmes benefit thousands of children. Our staff is doing its utmost to continue to serve these children, their families and communities, despite severely limited humanitarian access. World Vision and other international agencies, including UNICEF, attest to the severe psychological and physical stress children are experiencing. Children comprise more than half of the population of Gaza. The ongoing attacks will only worsen their situation.

It is the responsibility of all parties to this conflict to protect the rights of children. The Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates that States Parties have an obligation under international humanitarian law to protect children. Israel, as a signatory to the Convention, must take all feasible measures to ensure protection and care of children who are affected by an armed conflict. Non-state actors, such as Hamas, are also bound by provisions in international law that uphold the special rights of children to protection. All should be held accountable for actions that contravene these rights.

We appeal to the Quartet (comprised of the European Union, the UN Secretary General, the United States and the Russian Federation) to more vigorously engage in efforts to bring about an immediate ceasefire. Once a ceasefire is in place, urgent efforts must be taken to renew a process aimed at securing a lasting solution to this long standing conflict. Finally, humanitarian agencies must be allowed unfettered access to those in need.

For further info:
Allyn Dhynes, World Vision Advocacy, Peacebuilding & Communications Manager for Jerusalem, WestBank, Gaza
Cell phone: +972 54 774 9509
Email: allyn_dhynes@wvi.org