UNITED NATIONS: There is not a single child in Gaza who has not been affected by the recent conflict in the area, where children suffer from bedwetting, difficulties in sleeping, nightmares, loss of appetite, and display aggressive behaviour in school, says an independent United Nations human rights expert.

On the floor of the UN General Assembly on Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to deflect attention of the International community by dubbing the United Nations Human Rights Council the “terrorist rights council”.

Know more: One child killed in Palestine every hour: Save the Children

At the end of his first mission to the region, Makarim Wib­isono, the Special Rapp­orteur on the situation of human rights in the Pal­estinian territories, exp­ressed alarm at the terrible cost paid by Palestinian civilians, especially children in Gaza, as a result of Israel’s military operation that lasted 50 days in the summer of this year.

According to a press release on his findings, the latest round of violence from July 7 to August 26 has left 1,479 civilians, including 506 children dead.

A staggering 11,231 Pale­stinian civilians, including 3,436 children were injured and many of them were now struggling with life-long disabilities. Tens of thousands of children live with the trauma of having witnessed the horrific killings of family members, friends, and neighbours.

“This raises serious questions about possible violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law,” Wibisono said.

“Israel’s claim of self-defence against an occupied population living under a blockade considered to be illegal under international law is untenable,” he said. “In a population where over half of the 1.8 million people are under 18, this is truly a tragedy, which will be felt for generations to come.” Not a single child in Gaza was spared from the impact of the conflict, said the Special Rapporteur.

Published in Dawn, October 1st , 2014